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'- - ., 2. Several publi.cations have been issued .dealing with various aspects of irrigation and water resource development. ' The most elaborate of these is a brochure published by the Conservancy District entitled "Water for Tomorrow" which I am sure most of you have seen. Copies are available atthe Registra~ion desk. Through these media and others, sponsored by the District and the Bureau of Reclamation, seven irrigation districts have been organized in the Project area, encompassing abcut 316,000 acres of irrigable land. These irrigation districts are essential to the successful de- velopment of the Garrison Diversion Unit. They are organized on petition and request of the farmers owning irrigable land. Several additional irrigation districts could be established in other areas if the need existed. In some cases we have discouraged their or- ganization because there is no need to have. more districts established. In all' cases, at least 80% of the irrigable land has been voluntarily included in the irrigation district, and in some cases, the irrigable land included in the district voluntarily has gone as high as 98%. The Bureau of Reclamation has been most helpful at all times in bringing factual and unbiased information to all parties, based on their wealth of experience in this field. The irrigation districts are essential to the development of this project since they are the local entities composed of the irrigable land that will be served by a distribution aystem, which is a part of the over-all project. Through these dis- tricts, the irrigators will be assessed for and pay their share of the construction of the unit .and also their annual share of the operation and maintenance costs. ,. A second function of the Conservancy District is that of supporting the Project before various groups, agencies of government and Con- gressional Committees. l~e are glad that we can speak for well informed, united and enthusiastic water users and the public. We can report that some progress in irrigation research in North Dakota has been accomplished. by the Agricultural Research Service although there is a need to reinstate and expand the irrigation re- search program of that agency in the state. Excellent cooperation among the North Dakota State College, the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, our Legislature, the Bureau of Reclamation and other interested groups and citizens. has been displayed in furthering the research program in the state. There are three irrigation develop- ment farms operating most successfully in various parts of our proposed project area and an irrigation experiment farm that will be operated by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station is presently under construction. this station will cost about $400,000 and is being financed by the State. F-4 ~ r