Laserfiche WebLink
Agricultural Water Transfers <br />Policv Issues for Discussion - Agriculture is and will continue to be the largest consumptive <br />use of water in the suite. Agriculture is important to Colorado's economy- and culture. The <br />decline in irrigated acres is partially attributable to - rbanization of irrigated lanes, lacI of <br />available `neater supplies for well augmentation, and the abihh- of M&I hater providers to pad- <br />attractive prices for the actlaisition and transfer of agricultural water rights tinder a willing <br />buyer-willing seller free market. Although there is general agreement that agricultural water <br />transfers will continue, there is need for discussion over: <br />¦ The extent to which free market willing buver-willing seller transactions can or should be <br />constrained; <br />¦ The extent to which alternative water transfer methods can or should be promoted; and <br />¦ The relative impacts of additional agricuiltural water transfers in the South Platte and <br />Arkansas Basins versus the development of additional West Slope water for use on the Front <br />Range. <br />Tecluiical Approat h <br />¦ Evaluate the historical trends in irrigated acres in each basin. <br />¦ Evaluate the impact of using South Platte agricultural water transfers to meet the 2050 <br />projected MKI demands of the South Platte. <br />¦ litcorporate the Super Ditch analysis from the Arkansas and work with the water transfers <br />matrix developed by the Arkansas Bashi Water Transfer subcommittee. <br />¦ Quantifv agricultural transfers and trends ivith irrigated acreage on the West Slope and <br />analyze the role of these trends in meeting 2050 projected West Slope MM demands. <br />August 2005 meeting, the IBCC had a preliminary discussion on agricultural <br />>. This strategy will be further evahiated at the October meeting.