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Section 3 <br />Agricultural Water Use <br />Irrigators who rely on groundwater already have significant incentive f or water <br />conservation. Reducing the amount of water pumped decreases energy costs and <br />prolongs the economic lif e of aquifers. Many Colorado f armers have switched to <br />irrigation systems with enhancements such as drop nozzles, low-pressure delivery <br />systems, irrigation scheduling, minimum tillage, and other techniques to improve on- <br />f arm efficiency and reduce pumping requirements. Widespread adoption of these <br />technologies incompact-limited basins such as the Arkansas, a South Platte and Rio <br />Grande may result in changed return flow patterns, reduced groundwater recharge <br />and potential f or downstream injury. <br />Approximately one million acres of Colorado's three million 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 />~~~ai~~~ ~L~ L~n~d ~~ <br />i~l7 I~~`~~~i~r~ <br />~lat~r~l <br />- l~rb~n <br />ultiv~~e <br />Ir~ig~td ropy <br />Figure 3-1 <br />Agricultural Irrigated and Cultivated Lands <br />DRAFT 3-1 <br />