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<br />CHAPTER II <br /> <br />PROBLEMS AND NEEDS <br /> <br />The need for full service irrigation is difficult to quantify <br />because the need is relative and is influenced by National as well as local <br />priorities. The stability of some farm operations and the economy of the <br />general area would be improved if more land were brought under irrigation. <br />There is a need for more livestock feed. Reductions in grazing allotments <br />on public land are adversely affecting some livestock operations and are <br />increasing the need for more farm-grown feed. Some farmers need to expand <br />their operations to have economic-sized units. With irrigation some cul- <br />tivated lands now used for dry farm production of wheat could be shifted <br />to production of forage crops. Other nonirrigated lands seeded to range <br />grasses could be used with irrigation for production of more valuable al- <br />falfa hay and grains. <br /> <br />Municipal and Domestic Water <br /> <br />The total annual water requirement for municipal and domestic use in <br />the project area is estimated to reach 6,000 acre-feet by the year 2000. <br />About half of this requirement could probably be provided by continued use <br />of present supplies or from potential private developments now approaching <br />reality. <br /> <br />The above estimate is based on a per capita use rate of 0.25 acre-foot <br />a year and on a projected population of about 24,000 in the year 2000. The <br />unit rate of 0.25 acre-foot, equivalent to 225 gallons per day, is the <br />approximate average for urban and rural use in Western Colorado communi- <br />ties. The projected population was extrapolated from a 1985 figure in <br />the Progress Report by J.M. Bowers and Associates, referred to previously <br />under "Industrial Water." Projected growth to the year 2000 reflects an <br />average yearly increase of about 5 percent. <br /> <br />Ii,.';,. <br /> <br />,.",. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />The towns of Meeker and Rangely are attempting to prepare for an in- <br />flux of new residents that are anticipated in connection with energy de- <br />velopment. Meeker is presently embarking on a three-stage project to de- <br />velop a new water supply from wells along the White River about 8 miles <br />southeast of the town. The completed project is designed to supply a mu- <br />nicipal population of 7,850 people. The first stage is to begin in 1976. <br />Subsequent stages of this project are to be constructed as the need ar~ses. <br />Rangely is currently initiating investigations to find ways of utilizing <br />water rights it owns in the White River. <br /> <br />At the present time there is no piped domestic water system for rural <br />residents in the White River Valley. Interest in such a system has become <br />evident in recent years, and the supporters of such a program have requested <br />that the Yellow Jacket Project include water for it. <br /> <br />17 <br />