Laserfiche WebLink
<br />- <br /> <br />The history of <br /> <br />an. end. These changes, and .the departu,e of mare than 600 persons from the take <br /> <br />to\ms,tlloOL;, churches Jnel business wl'iu the area will come to <br /> <br />area, will te~r the social fabric, and ~or some tllat tear may never heal. <br /> <br />Nevertheless, tile Color~(lo Dep3ttc2~t of Agriculture, statutorially charged <br /> <br />w:.th the responsibility to "inquire inta the needs of agriculture of the state and <br /> <br />!:lake recommendations to the governor anc general assembly..." has recormended to <br /> <br />the Governor and reconunends to this panel today that this project be built. <br /> <br />First of ,all, we feel that it is ic the best interests of :he people of <br /> <br />Colorado -- and the nation -- to strengtcen Colorado's food production capability <br /> <br />whenever'possible. Competition for agricultural land and water in our state is <br /> <br />increasing in order to meet demands for civing space and industrial growth, <br /> <br />particularly energy development. The grcc,;ng spectre of drought and the uncertainty <br /> <br />'about climatic conditions in the relativ~ly near future reminds us all of the <br /> <br />fragility of agricultural activity. Yet there are nO signs that demands for <br /> <br />agricultural production will lessen. <br /> <br />Secondly, if present population pat~2rns within the state continue unchecked, <br /> <br />the Front Range area will have 90% of oc:: population within 20 years. Yet between <br /> <br />1950 and 1970., over half of our 63 counL~s lost population, including Horgan, <br /> <br />Logan, Phillips and Sed~,ick counties in this northeastern corner. For these and <br /> <br />other reasons, Colorado has adopted a pocicy of redirecting grO\,'th away from the <br /> <br />Front Range, whenever possible. <br /> <br />We believe that the Narrows Project :5 consistent with strengthening our food <br /> <br />production base and redirecting growth a~ay from the Front Range -- two very <br /> <br />important state and national goals. A f~vorable economic analysis convinces us <br /> <br />that the decision to support tllis projec: is the correct one. <br /> <br />- 9 - <br />