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<br />Comments to SWSlt November 3, 2003, by John Wiener <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />where small acreages are not being operated for profit or at sca'es sufficient to support <br />investment in higher technology, as well as the chance for increased risks from and to ditches, <br />especiaUy where thoughtless zoning and development put investments in dangerous tocations~ <br /> <br />In a perfect world, ditches heading in this direction shoufd be offered various easements, <br />jncentives and opportunities to provide pubHc benefits from such water management and habitat <br />support, designed to provide those benefits with appropriate access to the public as well as the <br />new neighbors~ (And, urban developers and officiars would reap the benefits of ditches instead of <br />encroaching on them, injuring rights of way, creating hazards, and generally turning an asset into <br />a liability wh ile inj uring the providers...) <br /> <br />Urban amenity values and the agricultural legacy <br /> <br />In almost all of Colorado's urban areas] important quality of Ufe benefits derive from the beneficial <br />externality provided by conveyance losses from ditches and canals, and in many urban and <br />suburban areasj there are arso important benefjts from uses of the rights of way for trans and <br />other access~ Denver.s Highline Canal is a premier amenity, as shown on the city's website, and <br />the State has published a serjes of maps of traits as weil. The ditch companies are, for most of <br />the population of the West on a dajJy basjs, Uthe people who brought you trees and birds..u <br /> <br />There are two ways to consider the vatue of the amenities provided by the ditches and their <br />support of vegetation and wildlife. First, real estate varuation reflects the added charms of bejng <br />near these amenities; economists have studied the differences between similar properties, using <br />large sampfest to sort out different sources of va.lue) and amenities are not trivial.. The National <br />Association of Home Builders] for example, sponsored a study on the value of trails (reported by <br />the RaUs to Trails ConserVancy; the NAHB publication is costly, but a distiHation can be seen at <br />http://www.nahb~org/generic4aspx?genericContentID=540). A local check could be performed by <br />simply asking realtors for their experience and advice1 or perhaps interview some residents about <br />what they like and don't Uke~ <br /> <br />The second approach to vaJuation might be considering the cost of purchasing the same servrces <br />and qualities. How much would it cost to provide treated water and a distribution system for the <br />support of the vegetation along ditches if the ditch itself,were Ilturned off"? Would the neighbors <br />be willing to provide that watering, and are there neighbors arong the ditch? If the trees and <br />shrubs were lost, what would it cost to reprace them, or to estabfish similarfy supportive bird and <br />wildlife habitat? (Raccoon-haters may think this would be a foolish question, but bird-lovers may <br />not.) And, what would be the cost (let alone probability) of acquiring a corridor like that provided <br />by the ditch, as a new right of way? <br /> <br />The literature supports claims about the importance of amenities and the sense of place (e~g. <br />Daniels, T.L., J.W. KeUer, and M~B. Lappingt 1995t The Small Town Plannina Handbook, 2d Ed., <br />Chicago: American Planning Associationt Chaps. 10, 12 and 21; and see Chaps. 3, 4 and16 in <br />Arendtt R. at att Rural bv Desjon: Maintainina Smarr Town CharacterJ 1994, Chicago: American <br />Planning Association; for metropolitan areas, see Hoch, C.J., L.C. Dalton and F.S. 50r 2000, The <br />Practice of Local Government PJanning, 3rd Ed. Washington; D.C.: International City/County <br />Management AssociationJ Chaps. 5 and 8.; and see references in comment above). <br /> <br />Agricultural efficiency and environmental values <br />Agricultural Efficiency and unintended uses of water: this is relevant to ## 1 t2,5.6,7,8, and 9f <br /> <br />Outside of urban areas; conveyance losses, seepage and irrigation inefficiencies create <br />significant added wirdlife and vegetation benefits in rural Jandscapes enlivened by the water <br />distribution system. The Front Range as a whole, including the Plains (and much of the West <br />