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2.8 IRRIGATED ACREAGE ASSESSMENT NEEDS <br />There have been major changes in land use and irrigation practices in the South Platte River basin. <br />An assessment of current irrigation water use, and changes in irrigation water use over the past <br />50 years, is needed by water users and water providers for water management purposes and for <br />water rights administration by the State engineer. Such an assessment would address the following <br />needs: <br />• Need of reliable mapping of current and historic land use and irrigated acreage by crop type <br />• Need to link irrigated areas with their sources of water supply. This will require mapping of <br />ditch systems and well locations with their respective service areas. <br />• Need an assessment of major changes in land use and irrigation practices (i.e., changes in <br />irrigated areas, transition to center pivot irrigation methods, and conversion of irrigation to <br />municipal and industrial water use) <br />• Need of a system for mapping and analysis that is dynamic and efficient, fully documented, <br />easily maintained and updated <br />• Need mapping of native vegetation category <br />2.9 INTERSTATE NEEDS <br />Interviews with State officials and water users identified several needs associated with interstate <br />matters: <br />• Need for data and tools to assist the Colorado State Engineer in administering Colorado's <br />obligations under the South Platte River Compact <br />• Need the ability to evaluate (1) the effects of water management strategies for Cooperative <br />(Three States) Agreement, and (2) the effects of other future downstream water uses on <br />Compact and Colorado water users <br />• Need for connection between SPDSS and OpStudy model of downstream Platte River in <br />Nebraska and/or North Platte River in Wyoming <br />• Need for interaction of SPDSS with Nebraska DSS <br />2.10 WATER QUALITY NEEDS <br />Although not currently existing in CDSS, the recognition that water quality and quantity are <br />closely linked has prompted water users to communicate needs related to water quality. These <br />needs primarily include data needs such as the following: <br />• Need to include a comprehensive database of all existing water quality data in order to aid <br />in water quality investigations, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) modeling efforts and <br />possibly to help resolve quality/quantity issues <br />p:data\gen\spdss~final report\chapter 2.doc 2-9 <br />October 31, 2001 <br />