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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />gravity irrigation methods. Based upon a review of the literature and <br /> <br /> <br />discussions with local officials, an overall farm irrigation efficiency of <br /> <br /> <br />50 percent was assumed to be representative (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, <br /> <br />1977). <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />The land that is presently irrigated in the South Platte River basin <br /> <br />represents that land most readily suited for irrigation. Much of this land <br /> <br /> <br />is located in the Front Range urban corridor. While urbanization continues <br /> <br /> <br />to displace agriculture in the South Platte River basin, agricultural <br /> <br /> <br />production in the eastern High plains area is being jeopardized by a <br /> <br /> <br />lowered ground water table and increasing energy costs. These two factors <br /> <br /> <br />together compound the problem of maintaining agriculture's contribution to <br /> <br /> <br />the lifestyle and economy of eastern Colorado. <br /> <br />More than 2 million acres of prime agricultural lands in the basin which <br /> <br />are not now irrigated would become prime agricultural lands if irrigated. <br /> <br /> <br />For the most part, these lands are the uplands and bench lands in the South <br /> <br /> <br />platte River basin. They are located from 0.3 to 8.5 miles from the river <br /> <br />and from 150 to 400 feet higher in elevation than the river; thus, pumped <br /> <br /> <br />diversions or long supply canals would be required to deliver irrigation water. <br /> <br />-25- <br />