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<br />.J <br /> <br />state's area, three-fifths of the state's population and over three- <br />fifth's of the state's property valuation. The Conservancy District <br />takes in the entire areas of 25 counties of the state including some <br />counties where only a small acreage is irrigable. <br /> <br />~he Conservancy District is governed by a ~oard of Directors consisting <br />of one Director from each of the 25 counties in the District. These <br />Directors have been appointed by their respective Boards of County <br />Commissioners, but as of this year they will be elected by the voters <br />in each county. The District was established specifically for the <br />development of the Diversion Unit and its Board of Directors waS given <br />certain duties and responsibilities by law enabling the development <br />of this project. Included in our powers is the authority to levy a <br />tax over the entire area of the District to finance the contracts that <br />we enter into, and to pay other obligations. The District has several <br />other important functions and duties, which time does not permit one to <br />discuss. Our District Board of Directors is having its quarterly meeting <br />here in Grand Forks tomorrow and any of you who are free, are welcome <br />to sit.in on any part of it. <br /> <br />We feel that the Conservancy District's kind of organization as es- <br />tablished here is a new and unique approach to providing for the needed <br />local participation in a large multiple purpose resource development <br />project. The District not only represents all of the potential water <br />users from the water project, but also provides a means whereby those <br />who will benefit indirectly through the growth and expansion of the <br />~l,;UlLUWY, w.i.i.'i !Jay C:l i:li.h:U.C vi: "'~lC ,-v~i..i:J ;.;,~ ;":.0.;.' p:"'vj..:...:.::. ,:,~...~~.::...:: ..._..~ <br />because the Conservancy District's levy extends to all of the taxable <br />valuation in the county, and not just to the areas that are directly <br />benefited. It has been estimated that the direct beneficiaries will <br />pay only about 10% of the total District's mill levy and the so-called <br />indirect beneficiaries will pay about 90%. The direct beneficiaries, <br />of course, will be required to pay other obligations in conjunction <br />with the project through irrigation water costs, municipal water charges <br />andmcreational development that the local park boards arid park dis- <br />tricts will assume. <br /> <br />The relationship of the Conservancy District with the Bureau of <br />Reclamation is very closely tied to the functions of the Conservancy <br />District itself. Let me discuss briefly some of our functions, which <br />have been touched upon above. <br /> <br />The first of these is that of proDoting tbe project aDong future project <br />beneficiaries. Tbis has been carried on in a number of ways. Among <br />these have been the following: <br /> <br />1. Personal contacts and visits between future irrigation <br />farmers of the District with irrigation farmers <br />from existing irrigation districts. <br /> <br />F-3 <br /> <br />T <br />