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- c. " ,1', ~') ,Ie l.L v ' COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NO. 5-FC-50-08180 BETWEEN BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND SPANISH PEAKS/PURGATOIRE RIVER SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE FOR DEMONSTRATION OF IMPROVED IRRIGATION PRACTICES PURGATOIRE RIVER HYDROLOGIC UNIT This agreement between the Bureau oe Reclamation, hereinafter referred to as "Reclamation", Spanish Peaks, Purgatoire River Soil Conservation District, hereinafter referred to as "District" and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, hereinafter referred to as "NRCS" is entered into pursuant to the Reclamation Act of 1902, as amended, in particular the Act of April 19, 1945, amending Section 0 of the Fact Finder's Act and Public Law 103- 316 and Public Law 104-46. A. BACKGROUND Reclamation has a major responsibil~ty, in partnership with water users, States, and other interested parties, to help improve water resource management and the efficiency of water use in the western United States. With passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, Reclamation's original challenge was to promote the settlement of the West through development of water resources. Reclamation now faces the challenge ,of using its existing infrastructure and resources to improve the management of those water resources for providing additional benefits to the American public. Water conservation actions have been part of Reclamation's mission for many years. Recently ,conservation, improved management of resources, and stewardship have gained significance in describing Reclamation's current and future mission. Introduction Surface water from the Arkansas River, its tributaries, as well as groundwater from the Ogllala and Dakota aquifers is being applied to supplement limited rainfall on approximately 500,000 acres of cropland in southeast Colorado. With annual precipitation ranging from 11 to 17 inches annually, irrigation water is applied to about 33 different crops. \