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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 0226 . Agricultural impacts . Economic impacts . Social impacts · Environmental impacts The main agricultural impact for all of these transfers has been or will be the loss of lands from irrigated crop production. The transfers have removed approximately 56,1 00 acres from production. Data from Kansas vs. Colorado indicates that from Pueblo to the state line the 1940-1985 average of land under irrigation from 25 ditch companies is 320,851 acres. Historical transfers account for 56,100/320,851 or about an 18 percent reduction thus far. Social effects are manifested in an increased sensitivity to removal of water from the valley. Dried- up farms are easily identified by the knowledgeable observer. The level of concern and conflict is high. Public actions have begun at the grass roots level to deal with water transfer issues. Economic and environmental changes resulting from these transfers are difficult to quantify because changes in the valley are the result of several factors, including conditions in agricultural markets nationwide. Water right sale information was obtained on six major transfers of both lower and upper Arkansas water rights and is presented in Table 2.1. The Lower Arkansas water rights of the Las Animas Consolidated Canal, Colorado Canal Companies, and Rocky Ford Ditch are comparable to the Ft. Lyon Canal system. These comparable water rights were sold in the years 1985 to 1988 at a cost which ranged from $1,570 to $3,152 per acre foot of consumptive use. Other Upper Arkansas water rights have sold at much higher values. Table 2.1 Historical Water Transfers Year ($/acre foot C.U.) Lower Arkansas Water Rights: 1. West Pueblo Ditch 2. Las Animas Consolidated Canal 3. Colorado Canal Companies 4. Rocky Ford Ditch Upper Arkansas Water Rights: 1. Twin Lakes 2. Busk Ivanhoe 1978-1992 1985 1986-1987 1988 $732 to $892 $2,000 $1,570 to $2,500 $3,152 1970-1992 1986-1987 $3,182 to $9,091 $3,000 2-13