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Section 1 Purpose Agricultural irrigation is widely recognized as one of the most significant uses of water in Colorado. Statewide about 80 to 85 percent of our annual water use is attributable to agricultural production. This has lead to a public perception that implementation of agricultural water efficiency/conservation measures can easily provide additional water supplies to meet growing demands for urban, industrial, recreation, and environmental water needs in Colorado. The reality is that opportunities f or producing significant amounts of transf erable water f or municipal and industrial (M&I) uses through agricultural water conservation measures are limited by certain physical, legal and economic '` ~~ ~ ~` § factors. It is im ortant to reco nize that ,~ ~ ~`~ r ~~~~~ ~, ,. _ ~ p g ~~^ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ R ~ ~ ~ ~ agricultural water conservation may increase . ~ ~ - ,, ` ~ ,~ ~ ~ : d. agricultural producer exposure to risks such as ,~ ~ ~ . ~r~ ~.,~ ~~. ~. , ~ ~ ~ ~ irrigation system f allure or drought. In addition, ~~ `~ ~ `~ ~ _ ~ ~„ water conservation measures often result in .. m ~. , ~ ~ .~ ~ increased equipment, labor, and management y costs that must be borne either b the irri ator or :.. ~ ~ ' ~ Y g y ~' ry ~1 ,, ~~ by those who benef it from the conserved water. ~~ , . ~~~ ~ ~ ~ Increased and enhanced use of irrigation water ~' ~ ._ - A ~ N ~ ~ conservation measures maY be beneficial in X f / '~ F ~ ~' ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ` certain areas of Colorado if the basin scale im acts ~~ ~ „ ~~ ~ p "~~ ~~ ~ ~° ~~~~ ~ are evaluated as art of the ado tion rocess. p p p .: ~ ~~,a~ ~ Increased agricultural water conservation could ~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~'~~ ~ ~ `,~~4~~J potentially result in a voluntary reduction in the .a ~~ .. ~ : ~ ~ diversion of water to the f arm, creating benefits w ~'~ k ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~- ~ ~~ ~ ~ ; ~. ~~ ~~ ~~ er y ~~rt~ _ ~~ ~~ such as improved water quality, allowing water to remain in the streams, and reducing energy costs f or pumping, but may not result in water that can be legally transf erred to other uses. If the use of water conservation measures can improve water supply availability without causing injury to downstream users or the environment, then the result maybe increased water supplies for agriculture and other uses. This document examines the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing water conservation measures as a source of future water supply. This report is intended as a guide to evaluate the role agricultural water conservation measures may play in addressing Colorado's future water supply needs. While there are limitations associated with developing signif leant amounts of transf erable water f or new uses f rom agricultural conservation, there are also some opportunities that can and should be explored. There are also select opportunities to implement local/site specific agricultural improvements that can reduce costs and provide environmental or ecological benefits. These topics and others are discussed in greater detail below. DRAFT 1-1