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"fallowing" management could be very helpful for individuals and ditch companies considering <br />their alternatives, and for those working to develop contracts for new arrangements. An earlier <br />workshop concluded that on-farm management issues should be soluble, but that little had been <br />done in the implementation steps to minimize risks and promote best management (this was held <br />in Colby KS in association with the Central Plains Irrigation Association, by David Yates and <br />John Wiener, in a research project currently being concluded.) (Please also see appendix). <br />For example, it may be that predictable rotations allow different levels of productivity and support <br />different levels of input and management investment with implications for preference of kind of <br />program followed, and for levels of compensation required for participation in different programs. <br />This may be important for potential participants with different land and water-rights assets. Given <br />different goals for soil and productivity maintenance, immediate cash income, long-term operational <br />adjustment or re-orientation, and so forth, knowing what is likely to be better or less supported from <br />agronomic and farm management assistance sources may be very important. <br />RATIONALE Part 3: Facilitation The issues and problems involved with water transfers in <br />and from the Lower Arkansas Valley are profoundly important to this area. Twenty-six percent of <br />primary income was still from agriculture before the 2002 Drought, even after the large sales from <br />the Colorado Canal, Rocky Ford Ditch, and Consolidated Canal (among many others) (Howe, <br />C.W. and C. Goemans, 2002, The Nature and Impacts of Market Transfers of Water in the South <br />Platte and Arkansas Basins. Colorado Water, Dec. 2002, available on-line at: <br /><http://www.cwrri.colostate.edu>; Howe, C.W. and C. Goemans, 2003, Water Transfers and their <br />Impacts: Lessons from Three Colorado Water Markets. Journal of the American Water Resources <br />Association 39(5): 1055-1065.) Emotions are high, for good reason. <br />The Arkansas Basin Roundtable includes the statutory appointments of many interests, and most <br />are represented on the Water Transfers Committee as well. Because of the breadth of interests and <br />experience, facilitation to synthesize and assist in moving ahead has been very important. It is <br />apparent that facilitation has also helped in many other situations and processes, and Ms. Smith is <br />well-regarded in the Valley. Her participation in the inquiries, as well as the range of her other <br />employment in IBCC outreach, and other Roundtable activities, will help with the processes of <br />discussion. In addition, she will help design and present the informational content for the <br />meetings, and help to ensure that all interests are heard and involved. Facilitation will also help <br />ensure complementary and effective relations with other groups working in the Valley, such as the <br />Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy developing the Superditch project, with whom Ms. <br />Smith is also working. <br />Scope of Work <br />Task 1 Inquiries with Ditch Companies <br />• Prepare explanatory materials, schedule meetings, provide presentations, and engage <br />ditch company officials concerning company and shareholder interests in potential <br />water transfers, and potentially important conditions such as preferences for kinds of <br />programs, estimates of suitable land types for different purposes, and discussion of <br />potential applications of different programs and combinations of interests. NOTE: It is <br />13 <br />