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<br />Issues of on-farm water supply are: water may be delivered at different times, for different periods, <br />and at different rates; some irrigators may have been supplied by subirrigation, waste flows off fields, <br />or wells drawing from a water table created by seepage and historic irrigation, and will need to <br />change their method of obtaining water; the ease of moving water among fields may change; stock <br />watering from stock ponds or streams fed by return flows may be affected; weed infestation may <br />increase the necessary ditch cleaning and may increase winter ice in the canals; blowing dust from <br />barren fields may adversely affect the health of livestock; weed infestation and dust on dried up lands <br />may require more intense cultivation on irrigated lands; revegetation with continued watering may <br />be required. These issues are addressed by engineering analysis, application of agronomy and soil <br />science, and improvements in farm operations, and may be the subjects of water court decree terms <br />and conditions. <br /> <br />Irrigators feel financial effects. A variety of irrigators' property rights in land and water may be <br />affected. Undue restrictions on transfers may infringe on the private property rights of individual <br />water rights holders and reduce the value of their rights. Land and water values may change. A <br />completed transfer may reduce the value of remaining land and water if water court decree <br />conditions have not protected against depletions of water supply, or increased operating difficulties <br />or costs; on the other hand, the transfer may make the remaining land and water more valuable to <br />persons desiring to continue irrigating in the area or to other outside purchasers who will benefit <br />from the precedents established by the initial transfer. <br /> <br />Costs of ditch or lateral operation may rise or fa1\; costs of other water delivery may change (such <br />as well pumping costs); costs offarming (e.g. herbicide application) may increase where adjacent land <br />is revegetated or abandoned. <br /> <br />2. Ft. Lyon Canal Company operations and finances <br /> <br /> <br />Ditch companies are generally mutual enterprises to divert and distribute water at a shared cost. <br />Transfers will create change and can also create imbalances and inequities; maintenance <br />requirements for laterals and the main canal may change; costs of operations and administration may <br />change; control of the corporation (and its operating agents such as ditch superintendents and ditch <br />riders) and control of lateral operating groups may change, delivery of water may require changes <br />in structures such as headgates, wasteways, flumes, checks, and lateral headgates, with new or <br />increased expenses; and operating contracts and agreements may be altered due to changes in flow <br />regimen. Sluicing operations when sediments are washed from the ditch may be impaired, resulting <br />in reduction in capacity. <br /> <br />New management responsibilities may be introduced: use and management of revegetated lands <br />needs to be addressed; fencing and stock water will be needed where livestock grazing is planned. <br /> <br />Non-selling shareholders often desire to participate in water transfer court proceedings, or in <br />negotiations with purchasers to assure protection. Legal proceedings involve the expenses of hiring <br />and managing experts, including hydrologists, agronomists, and attorneys. Proposed water transfers <br /> <br />2-7 <br /> <br />