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Section 3 <br />Agricultural Water Use <br />Irrigators who rely on grotuldwater already 11ave significant ulcentive for water <br />conservation. Reduculg the amount of water punlped decreases energy costs and <br />prolongs the economic life of aquifers. Many Colorado farnlers have switclled to <br />irrigation systenls with enhancements such as drop nozzles, low-pressure delivery <br />systenls, irrigation scheduling, mininlum tillage, and other techniques to improve on- <br />farm efficiency and reduce punlpulg requirements. Widespread adoption of these <br />tecllnologies in coinpact-linuted basins such as t11e Arkansas, a Sout11 Platte and Rio <br />Grande nlay rest~lt u1 changed return flow patterns, reduced groundwater recharge <br />and potential for downstreanl uzjury. <br />Approxiinately one nullion acres of Colorado's three inillion irrigated crop acres have <br />already been converted to sprinkler and drip systems. Figure 3-1 shows the location <br />of agricultural irrigated and cultivated lands. <br />Reclassified NLCD Land Use <br />wi3h Irrigatian <br />_ Nlaterllce <br />Nalural <br />Ueban <br />Culti~at~d <br />Irrigafad Crops <br />Figure 3-1 <br />Agricultural Irrigated and Cultivated Lands <br />DRAFT 3-1 <br />