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<br /> <br />impact on most study areas appears <br />to be adverse due to loss of <br />wildlife habitat in seeped <br />areas. Conversion to sprinkler <br />application and recycle plans <br />would require significant amounts <br />of energy. <br /> <br />Acceptability varies widely <br />dependi ng on the i nci dence of <br />beneficial and adverse effects. <br />Where water can be conserved <br />within a study area for use in <br />another area, the acceptability is <br />low within the study area. <br />Acceptabi 1 i ty by envi ronmental <br />interest groups is generally <br />projected to be low. Soci al <br />impacts are not projected to be <br />significant in most of the study <br />areas. <br /> <br />There are potentially serious <br />legal and institutional barriers <br />to implementing water conservation <br />measures. For example, in some <br />locations while large quantities <br />in reduced diversions may be <br />achieved, the current <br />beneficiaries and owners woul d <br />probably not be agreeabl e to new <br />beneficial use of water outside <br />present service areas, <br />particularly if additional <br />expenditures were required from <br />the current beneficiaries. In <br />other cases it would be difficult <br />to identify beneficiaries and thus <br />obtai n repayment. I n some cases, <br />the implementation of conservation <br />measures may not be compatible <br />with existing contracts. <br />Adjudicated water rights of users <br />outside the study areas could be <br />seri ously impacted. Whenever <br />conservati on measures affect <br />exi sti ng downstream surface water <br />supplies or usable ground-water <br />supplies, litigation by such users <br />to p reserve the in tegri ty of the <br /> <br />supplies is a possibility. The <br />interpretation of the reserved <br />rights doctrine as applied to <br />Indian water rights could impede <br />or enhance the implementation of <br />water conservation measures, <br />dependi ng upon the ci rcumstances. <br /> <br />Finally, economic and financial <br />aspects of water conservation need <br />careful attention. On the one <br />hand, economi c i ncenti ves such as <br />cost-shari ng programs or reduced <br />repayment requ i rements may be <br />appropriate where beneficiaries <br />are other than those who undertake <br />water conservation. On the other <br />hand, increased repayment may also <br />be needed to encourage more <br />prudent utilization. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Cooperation and coordination <br />among Federal, state, and local <br />legislative entities will be <br />necessary to improve the effective <br />and efficient use of irrigation <br />water where such use is not now <br />practi ced. <br /> <br />A number of the analyzed <br />projects show potential for water <br />conservation. The report <br />recommends scheduling <br />investigations, identifying <br />feasible projects, and seeking <br />authority and funding for further <br />detailed studies. These steps <br />should be initiated jointly by <br />the Federal agencies, state <br />entities, and water users. <br /> <br />Conclusions <br /> <br />The following conclusions were <br />derived from analyses of <br />information provided the Water <br />Conservation Opportunities Study <br />Team: <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1. Reducing diversions by very <br /> <br />x <br />