Laserfiche WebLink
<br />000579 <br /> <br />IRRIGATION <br /> <br />. COLORADO <br />Planning objectives regarding irrigation development are as follows: <br />a. Agriculture is a renewable resource vital to the state's economy and <br />should be preserved and enhanced. Conversion of prime agricultural <br /> <br />land and water suitable for irrigated agriculture to nonrenewable <br /> <br />uses should be prevented. <br /> <br />b. Irrigators and irrigation water companies should be assisted to make <br /> <br />the maximum efficient use of water supplies which are presently <br /> <br />utilized. Such efforts could take the form of canal system <br /> <br />rehabilitation and on-farm assistance with more efficient irrigation <br /> <br />systems. Efforts should also include the construction of storage <br /> <br />facilities to reduce seasonal fluctuations in irrigation water <br /> <br />supply. The potential for ground-water recharge should be fully <br /> <br />examined in areas suitable for such a program. Federal and State <br /> <br />programs to accomplish these programs should be implemented. <br />c. (Applies to Platte-Niobrara Subbasin) Implementation studies should <br /> <br />be undertaken to determine the feasibility of constructing storage <br /> <br />facilities on tributaries of the South Platte River. Authorized <br />storage projects on the main stem of the South Platte River should be <br /> <br />constructed at the earliest practicable time. <br /> <br />d. A State water management system should be developed which provides an <br /> <br />adequate supply of high-quality water to all areas that have <br /> <br />ecological, agricultural, industrial, and human need1 and which <br /> <br />recognizes the social and economic impact of distribution and use. <br /> <br />Water conservation methods should be strongly encouraged by <br /> <br />agricultural users. <br /> <br />G-17 <br />