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<br />UUl.U':''':l <br /> <br />the west where this money would be a third level of agricultural subsidy (subsidy for water; <br /> <br /> <br />subsidy for crops; subsidy for water quality plans). The environmental community has been split <br /> <br />on the idea of subsidies. This became particularly evident when Congress tried to put a limit <br /> <br />on subsidies. Is this $5,000 grant really a subsidy or just tbe cost of economic planning? <br /> <br />Municipal members of irrigation districts are beginning to invest in programs aimed at <br /> <br />improving tbe quality of their water supply. In fact, municipal water users may prove to be a <br /> <br />major source of funding for the clean up of agriculturally induced water pollution, The city of <br /> <br />Boulder is con:;idering zoning section:; of a creek in order to improve water quality and <br /> <br />maintain the pbysical integrity of tbe riparian habitat In Utab municipalities are buying out <br /> <br />sbeep and cattle operations bigh in the watersbed in order to eliminate or control this land use <br /> <br />activity and tbus protect the quality of their water supply In the Utah example, the ultimate <br /> <br />user will pay tbe price of cleaner water. Similar efforts could be undertaken by municipal users <br /> <br />in the Bay-Delta area of California, It would likely be cheaper to buyout and retire tbe <br /> <br />agricultural lands causing tbe pollution rather than build neW water diversion/development <br /> <br />projects in more pristine areas higher up tbe stream so as to capture water above the area of <br /> <br />use and pollution, as is presently planned, However, this type of option has negative <br /> <br />consequences for instream flows and may not be politically popular in California or in other <br /> <br />states. <br /> <br />PART FOUR; IRRIGATION DISlRICIS AND ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE <br /> <br />What are the current procedures by which district board members are cbosen? How <br /> <br />. effective &Ie these procedures in ensuring a continuing board that is Imowledgeable about jssues <br />. . .. . <br /> <br />36 <br />