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<br />('C1979 <br /> <br />periodically applied to the lands to flush out the excessive salts to <br /> <br /> <br />prevent toxic actions on the plants. The extremely limited supply of surplus <br /> <br /> <br />water available for use in Colorado precludes any material increase in <br /> <br /> <br />the total dissolved solids in the lower reaches of the basin in the <br /> <br /> <br />future. In fact, the chief total benefits to be derived in Colorado in <br /> <br /> <br />this basin is from reregulation to provide a more timely and dependable <br /> <br /> <br />water supply. <br /> <br />Economics is very important in any integrated use of water in the <br /> <br /> <br />Arkansas Valley. The desired degree of reregulation wi I I require the <br /> <br /> <br />consolidation of pumps, construction of neW wells, the storage of winter <br /> <br /> <br />diversions, the storage of over-diversions during the snowmelt season, <br /> <br /> <br />and payment for such storage regulation together with other related <br /> <br /> <br />charges, i.e., administration and supervision. Because of the present <br /> <br /> <br />economic status of farmers under existing crop prices, the cost of a <br /> <br />basin management plan and the charges to the farmers for an enhanced water <br /> <br /> <br />supply must be within their repayment ability and at the Same time provide <br /> <br /> <br />sufficient profits to them. It is therefore apparent that detailed <br /> <br /> <br />economic studies, which are outside the scope of this report, must be made <br /> <br />prior to the adoption and implementation of any overall basin plan of <br /> <br />development. This does not preclude, nor shou I d it be inferred to preclude, <br />the adoption of laws needed for conjunctive use of the basin water resources. <br />'fhe \ 1m; ted water reSourCeS avai 'able in the Arkansas Basin is not unique <br /> <br />as that part of the Rio Grantle Basin in Colorado falls in the Same category. <br /> <br /> <br />The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project of the 8ureau of Reclamation will, <br /> <br /> <br />through the importation of an average of about 70,000 acre feet per year, <br /> <br /> <br />alleviate part of the basin shortage. Even so, these importations will not <br /> <br /> <br />eliminate the shortages now experienced in the basin. <br /> <br /> <br />Conclusions <br /> <br />Detailed studies, which were made in compliance with the provisions <br /> <br />conta i ned in Senate Bill 407, for bet ter. ut i 1 i zat ion of the Arkansas Ri ver <br /> <br /> <br />water resources in Colorado have resulted in the following findings and <br /> <br /> <br />conclusions: <br /> <br />1. The limited and variable flows of the Arkansas River are <br /> <br /> <br />generally inadequate to fully supply the irrigation water <br /> <br /> <br />requirements of the basin. <br /> <br />v <br />