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<br />1 <br /> <br />What the Conservancy District does, is get all these <br />beneficiaries who live in the counties affected by toe Unit into one <br />organization where they can say to the Federal Government, "This <br />Garrison Diversion Unit is a good thing for our area and we're will- <br />ing to help pay for it." <br /> <br />The equity and many of the advantages of this broadened <br />financial support are obvious. Even so, I think it well to examine <br />the problems of agricultural change-over that the Conservancy District <br />can help to solve. I am .sure that, without such help, these problems <br />would delay irrigation development on these northern great plains for <br />many unnecessary years. I have listed six major problems. <br /> <br />. 1. Problem'of joint planning. There is more to the job .of <br />joint planning than just reconciling the viewpoints of the several <br />Federal and State agencies directly involved, An agency such as the <br />Conservancy District, representing counties rather than specialized <br />interests, procably furnishes the best insurance that planning <br />decisions, and even compromises, stay pretty close to the mother <br />earth they are supposed to serve. <br /> <br />2. Problem of creating an informed public op1n10n. <br />Irrigation development under the Missouri River Basin Project requires <br />that water users pay the cost of operation and ma1ntenance and a share <br />01- i...i.lt:' l-lI"ojt!ci... C()W:ild'Ut.:L.L.Oll <..:0:::;1.:.. "J::-ney uo l...n.L.Li uy et:il.:.o.DJ..l.~nl.l.Jg ~rrJ.- <br />gation districts under state law so that they can negotiate and execute <br />repayment co~tracts and, in due time, tax themselves to fay the water <br />bill. Several thousand farmers are involved in this process on the <br />Garrison Diversion Unit. They must become informed on a very co~plex <br />subject. It will deeply involve tlleir daily work and economic welfare. <br />They cannot be appropriately informed by a Federal Agency or by Chamber <br />of Corrmerce activity. 'fhey are entitled to their o'm agency for t~is <br />purpose and, in the Conservancy District, they tave such an agency. By <br />this means public opinion on water development has beccme inforffied in <br />North Dakota, without heated argument and with a minimum of irresponsible <br />or self-serving information. Until this was done, and done properly, <br />no further constructive step could be taken. <br /> <br />3. Problem of organizing irri~ation districts. Here the <br />value of the Conservancy District has been evident to an amazing <br />degree. Six irrigation districts, representing 220,000 irrigable <br />acres, have been formed on the unit during the past four years, <br />despite good crops and a supported wheat price. The Conservancy <br />. District's leadership was essential in organizing volunteer farm <br />development committees and obtaining information about irrigation. <br /> <br />E-3 <br />