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Section 7 <br />Future Considerations <br />The following points are considerations related to the implementation of agricultural <br />water conservation and efficiency measures. These are ~resented by the Colorado Ag <br />Water Alliance as a startulg point for further dialog. It is inlportant to note that any <br />successful inlplementation of these nleasures is only one conlponent in nleeting <br />Colorado's future water needs. The better use of existing surface and groundwater <br />storage resources and the development of new storage to nleet future denlands and <br />for drougllt years will also be required to nleet both existulg agricultural shortages <br />and future M&I demands. <br />1. Each ab icultural operation and basin is unique and 11as wlique water <br />inanageinent considerations. As such, thoughtful consideration should be made of <br />the effects of inlplenlenting agricultural water conservation measures, either at the <br />farm scale or basul-wide scale. <br />2. Incentives for on-farm implementation of conservation nleasures should be <br />considered and evaluated in the context of compacts and basin 1lydrology. <br />3. Incentives for landowller control of pllreatophytes, given salvaged water <br />linutations, should be developed. <br />4. To 11e1p create ulcentives for unplenlentulg water conservation measures, t11e cost <br />of water conservation measures should be borne by the beneficiaries of the <br />conserved water. T11e agricultural user is unlikely and/or unable to bear the costs <br />if the beilefits only accrue to inlproved streanl flow, water quality, or tlle basin as <br />a whole. <br />5. It nlust be recognized that if irrigation water conservation nleasures are <br />implemented, in some areas there will be a periodic need for salinity leaching to <br />inaintain productivity. <br />6. There is a need for clearer statutory definitions of saved, salvaged, and conserved <br />water. <br />7. There is an opportunity for statutory clarification of the legality to transfer <br />conserved CU water. <br />8. If legislation is enacted, the state will need to develop adnunistrative means to <br />track and allocate conserved water and ensure conlpliance. <br />9. There is a need for irrigation water conservation deinonstration and pilot projects <br />in each basin. <br />10. There is a need for a nlore thorougll analysis of fl1e inlpact of widespread <br />adoption of spruzkler and drip irrigation systenls u1 Colorado. <br />DRAFT 7-1 <br />