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<br />made by the <br /> <br />Department. Agriculture, coupled with de.led analysis of soil <br /> <br />Survey maps and current land use maps. This is an areJ encompassing a sizable <br /> <br />portion of the project service area where wells cannot be used. Our analysis <br /> <br />shOl;s that approximately 25,000 acres of land were not under irrigation but fell <br /> <br />within Soil Conservation Service land ca?ability classifications of I, II and III <br /> <br />lands (all capable of irrigation). There is no question in our minds that these <br /> <br />lands could significantly add to our agricultural economy if sufficient water at <br /> <br />a reasonable price were available. <br /> <br />Bow Huch l,ater \,ould Be Available from the Narrows Project for Agricultural Purposes? <br /> <br />This question has been addressed by 'Ir. Kenneth l/right, a previous speaker. <br /> <br />We Concur with his estimates of 70,000 to 100,000 acre-feet of water from an <br /> <br />.individual fann perspective, and a range of 100,000 to 130,000 acre-feet from a <br /> <br />regional perspective. <br /> <br />What I<ill Be the Loss of Agricultural LaGds Within and Outside the Reservoir Area? <br /> <br />Estimates of land directly affected by the project have ranged from 45,000 <br /> <br />to 57,000 acres, and the number of irrigated acres affected have ranged from <br /> <br />8,000 to 17,000 acres. Which figures are correct? <br /> <br />Last year, Department staff met wit~ representatives from the Regional Land- <br /> <br />owners Groups and the Bureau to attempt to reconcile these differences. After <br /> <br />considerable analysis, we reached the foll~Ning conclusions: <br /> <br />1. The Bureau's estimate of 45,000 acres inside the take line (including <br /> <br />land for railroad relocation) is reasonable, as this estimate differs <br /> <br />from the Regional Landowners Gro~p estimate by 6% - a difference reasonably <br /> <br />accounted for by the difference in measurement methods likely used by <br /> <br />the t:\-lO groups. <br /> <br />2. Approximately 25,000 acres of pastureland and riverbottom land will be <br /> <br />removed from production. <br /> <br />- 3 - <br />