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<br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />In the mid-1930's, dry winds were searing the arid lands from the eastern <br />toe of the Rocky Mountains to the mid-continent. Shortage of water supply <br />plagued the irrigators of Northern Colorado. The local merchants of the urban <br />areas, dependent upon income from their agricultural neighbors, watched that <br />potential income fade away as the farm crops shriveled and died. <br /> <br />J. R. Barkley <br /> <br /> <br />ABOUT THE AUTHOR <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. J. R. "Bob" Barkley, a recognized authority in the field of water <br />resources, was Secretary-M.anager of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy <br />District for 16 years from 1958 through 1974. Prior to that time, he was as- <br />sociated with the District as Chief Engineer and Assistant Manager for 13 <br />years. In addition to a highly successful career with the District, he served on <br />numerous State boards and associations in connection with water resources <br />including terms as President of the Four-States irrigatIon Council, President <br />....of the Colora~o Water Congress, and 9 years as Colorado's Director of the <br />, '-National Water Resources Association. He served as the President of that or~ <br />.;~{$ari,~iation in 1974. Bob is a registered professional engineer in the State of <br />\C?lprado and has dedicated himself to his career with the District in a man- <br />'-}t'~iCh reflects the highest standards of that profession. <br />~\) <br /> <br />This land was so severely eroded by wind during the first Dust Bowl (I931~38) <br />that the farm had to be abandoned. The buildings were later torn down. <br />(Reprinted from U. S. Department of Agriculture, Leaflet No. 394) <br /> <br />Added to the dilemma of those years was the economic depression which <br />had engulfed the nation and, in fact, the entire world. The short-term outlook <br />was bleak. However, the people of Northern Colorado's South Platte Valley, <br />both farm and urban. were only a generation or two away from the pioneers <br />who had developed the valley_ By private initiative, their forbears built nearly <br />