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ACREAGE LIMITATION PROBLEM AND OUTLOOK IN THE FUTURE By BERT L. SMITH, Information Consultant Irrigation Districts Association of California There is considerable sentiment among water people in the west, Federal and State officials that the land limitation provisions of the Reclamation Act should be modernized in the light of current agricultural conditions, Although the problem of acreage limitation has been one of the most controversial, confusing and complicated aspects of the water development program for well over 20 years, not since 1958 has there been a serious attempt to do something about it, The current interest in a positive program to revise the Reclamation Act stems from a Task Force Report which was made to California Governor Reagan by a well qualified group of attorneys and engineers two years ago, During 1968 this report was widely circulated in the west and in Wash- ington, It elicited considerable interest and resulted in the introduction of S1631-by Senators )'v1urphy of California, Packwood of Oregon, Hansen of Wyoming, Tower of Texas and Fannin of Arizona, A companion measure was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Hosmer, Talcott and Teague of California and later by Congressman Price of Texas, , In summary, the pending measure would increase the 160 acre provision to 640 acres and would include the Engle formula which provides that ,excess lands could be given water without the benefit of the interest-free provision of the reclamation law, through agreement to pay an interest component. At the time S1631 was introduced, Senator Murphy stated that: "it is a good starting point"..,.. "I am not wedded to the specific language"..,.."The important consideration is that we start to work on the overall problem as soon as possible....." Since last March when the measures were introduced there has been considerable discussion of the problem and the pending proposal. Specific suggestions have been discussed, Contacts with various individuals, organizations and agencies indicate that the idea of increasing 160 acres to 640 creates a negative reaction, To meet this aspect of the problem consideration has been given to a flexible approach with a minimum of 160 acres as is now in the law, Specifically, the proposal which is being considered provides for an acreage limitation of a minimum of 160 irrigable acres or its equivalent, or ,such greater number of irrigable acres as may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior, with provision for review and, if necessary, adjustment every ten years. The Engle formula, providing that the acreage limitation shall not apply in any existing or future water projects to those lands in single ownership which are in excess of the limitation but on behalf of which an interest component is paid is an important aspect of the proposal. It is hoped that these two main aspects of the p~oposal plus such other ideas that are necessary wilj...-be carefully studied by organizations and agencies to the end that support from the western states will be reasonably unanimous, It is obvious that unless a proposal which is acceptable to the west-and which will be supported by western Congressmen and Senators-can be developed the possibility of generating eastern support is remote. There are enough poslt1ve factors to indicate that the acreage limitation problem should be pursued. It is time that the problem was solved-for the good of the reclamation program and for the good of the many sincere individuals and organizations which are involved in its difficult complica- tions. ,22-