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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Narrows Project remains an essential factor in meeting the water <br /> <br /> <br />needs of the South Platte River Basin. Our request of this committee for <br /> <br />fiscal year 1983 is an appropriation of <br /> <br />The purpose of these <br /> <br />funds would be to reinitiate activities concerning the project. <br /> <br />We submit today that the project is needed much more now than it ever <br /> <br />has been. <br /> <br />In submitting this statement, we respectfully implore each <br /> <br />commi ttee member to consider the regional differences between the needs of <br /> <br />semi-arid Colorado and other areas of our country. <br /> <br />The Narrows Project becomes more important to our area daily because <br /> <br />the needs of the region are changing so quickly. Narrows is now a project <br /> <br />for all the people of the eastern slope; farmer and unbanite alike. <br /> <br />How can the Narrows Improve Regional Agriculture? Besides the many <br /> <br />and varied benefits of a large multi-use project, Narrows can contribute <br /> <br />greatly to existing agriculture. But, according to the study Agricultural <br /> <br />Land Conversion in Colorado, published by the Colorado Department of <br /> <br />Agriculture, "Renewable irrigated acreage served by renewable water supplies <br /> <br />is no higher now than it was in 1959." And, "2/3 the value of all Colorado <br /> <br />crops is based upon irrigation." The Narrows project would provide 'security <br /> <br />through storage' to existing producers while opening new lands to production. <br /> <br />Also mentioned in the study, "Eighteen percent of Colorado's current <br /> <br />irrigated acreage (503,000 acres) depends upon nonrenewable groundwater. <br /> <br />Most of this acreage (406,000 acres) is located in the eastern high plains <br /> <br />above the Ogallala aquifer." It should come as no surprise that falling <br />