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<br />. Agricultural impacts <br />. Economic impacts <br />. Social impacts <br />. Environmental impacts <br /> <br />The main agricultural impact for all of these transfers has been or will be the loss of lands from <br />irrigated crop production. The transfers have removed approximately 56,100 acres from production. <br />Data from Kansas vs. Colorado indicates that from Pueblo to the state line the 1940-1985 average <br />of land under irrigation from 25 ditch companies is 320,851 acres. Historical transfers account for <br />56,100/320,851 or about an 18 percent reduction thus far. <br /> <br />Social effects are manifested in an increased sensitivity to removal of water from the valley. Dried- <br />up farms are easily identified by the knowledgeable observer. The level of concern and conflict is <br />high. Public actions have begun at the grass roots level to deal with water transfer issues. Economic <br />and environmental changes resulting from these transfers are difficult to quantify because changes <br />in the valley are the result of several factors, including conditions in agricultural markets nationwide. <br /> <br />Water right sale information was obtained on six major transfers of both lower and upper Arkansas <br />water rights and is presented in Table 2.1. The Lower Arkansas water rights of the Las Animas <br />Consolidated Canal, Colorado Canal Companies, and Rocky Ford Ditch are comparable to the Ft. <br />Lyon Canal system. These comparable water rights were sold in the years 1985 to 1988 at a cost <br />which ranged from $1,570 to $3,152 per acre foot of consumptive use. Other Upper Arkansas water <br />rights have sold at much higher values. <br /> <br /> <br /> Table 2.1 Historical Water Transfers <br /> Year ($/acre foot C.U.) <br /> Lower Arkansas Water Rights: <br /> 1. West Pueblo Ditch 1978-1992 $732 to $892 <br /> 2. Las Animas Consolidated Canal 1985 $2,000 <br /> 3. Colorado Canal Companies 1986-1987 $1,570 to $2,500 <br />, <br /> 4. Rocky Ford Ditch 1988 $3,152 <br /> Upper Arkansas Water Rights: <br /> 1. Twin Lakes 1970-1992 $3,182 to $9,091 <br /> 2. Busk Ivanhoe 1986-1987 $3,000 <br /> <br />2-13 <br />