Laserfiche WebLink
<br />000982 <br /> <br />PART ONE: IRRIGATION DIS'lRlcrs <br />AND TIlE REALLOCATION OF WESTERN WATER <br /> <br />Traditional patterns of agricultural water use are coming face to face with competition <br /> <br /> <br />from other water uses over a limited supply, The idea is that at least some water must be <br /> <br /> <br />reallocated from inefficient or lower valued agricultural use to supply the increasing demand for <br /> <br />municipal, environmental, industrial and commercial uses, A number of obstacles to private <br /> <br /> <br />competition exist such as: third party effects, forfeiture of water .rights, the public trust doctrine, <br /> <br /> <br />Indian rights, "no harm" rules, protection of instream flows, salvaged water disposition, area of <br /> <br /> <br />origin issues, concepts of beneficial and reasonable use, along with similar issues in state and <br /> <br />federal laws that create new standards for the use and protection of water resources, Finally, <br /> <br />western urbanization is strengthening the political influences of municipal users and diminishing <br />the clout of agricultural interests, <br /> <br />The main reallocation issue is how have and will irrigation districts adapt as <br /> <br />necessary to deal with evolving water supply issues. Will they voluntarily engage in reallocation <br /> <br /> <br />activities as a result of market mechanisms and the pressures from a changing constituency? <br /> <br /> <br />Will external inCentives and guidance lead them to modify their role and policies or will change <br /> <br /> <br />require external mandates through legislation, regulation and court order? Each of these broad <br /> <br />options raises specific issues, discussed below. <br /> <br />4 <br />