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<br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT STUDY: FINAL REPORT
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<br />ISSUES OF ALLOCATIONS: RECONCILING SUPPLY WITH DEMAND
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<br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION MEETING
<br />PHOENIX, AZ
<br />Need to see power issue from the irrigation side. Problem
<br />is borrowed in excess of value of land, can't sell land to
<br />pay debt which is a horrible situation. It has been subsi-
<br />dized, so cost of power wasn't an issue.
<br />
<br />BUREAU OF RECLAMA'I'ION MEE'I'ING
<br />PHOENIX, AZ
<br />What is irrigation's long term role in basin?
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<br />What are the long term affects of losing agriculture. Can't
<br />predict it. No long term look at what impacts will be.
<br />Short term decisions made that seemed a good idea at the
<br />time. Just like facing environmental consequences today
<br />from past mistakes. Need forum for long term thinkers to
<br />come forward.
<br />
<br />CAP is good case in point. High repayment prices were
<br />predicted 30 yrs ago.
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<br />Does irrigation have long term role in basin. In Arizona,
<br />if it does, it won't be very big, especially as subsidies go
<br />away. Same with Salt River Project.
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<br />That will be issue for local areas, urbanizing reclamation
<br />projects, e.g. Yuma,
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<br />Loss of agricultural land and water to M&I users.
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<br />Or, replacement of traditional lifestyle to a modern
<br />lifestyle. Losing cultural identity.
<br />
<br />Urbanization of West. Mindset was to protect agrarian
<br />concepts, now the mindset is for the developers. Agrarian
<br />support is going away.
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<br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION MEETING
<br />SALT LAKE CITY, UT
<br />What are the implications of rising hay prices.
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<br />"ELLIS CODEKAS
<br />COACH ELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
<br />COACH ELLA, CA
<br />The economy of much of California and the river commu-
<br />nities of Arizona depends on availability of steady supplies
<br />of Colorado River water. Last year river-water-supplied
<br />growers along the lower Colorado produced $1.6 billion in
<br />fresh fruits and vegetables which were distributed here in
<br />the United States as well as around the world, That figure
<br />does not include output from the Mexicali Valley, also
<br />dependent on the Colorado for its prolific crop output.
<br />Every effort must be made to be certain thai adequate
<br />flows are available to continue jobs and income and an
<br />inexpensive food supply for millions.
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<br />WAYNE: MARCHANT
<br />CRD-LAS VEGAS, USEPA
<br />LAS VEGAS, NV
<br />I do have one suggestion, Issue number 2, Issues involv-
<br />ing economic aspects or irrigation, really is, or should be,
<br />a sub-set of Issue 9, Issues that involve opportunities for
<br />
<br />conservation/efficient water use. 1 recommend that it be
<br />subs~med under Issue 9, which really is the core issue.
<br />The frct that Issue 2 includes only three subsidiary bullets
<br />impli~s that it doesn't stand well alone. Consohdanon
<br />woul\! reduce the number of issues by one, which can't
<br />hurt, ,given their complexity.
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<br />BUR~AU OF RECLAMATION MEETING
<br />BOULDER CITY, NV
<br />We t~lk a lot about subsidies for agricultural water. But
<br />what!s happened in old projects is subsidy is capitalized
<br />in th~ land value. New owner and operator has subsidy
<br />refle4ted in mortgage; the real subsidy walked. So charging
<br />mar~et rate now would bankrupt users because they no
<br />long~r really get the benefit. Lots of social impacts,
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<br />Soci~l implications of change from cost basis to a market
<br />basis.
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<br />Emergence of other uses with competing demands, e.g.,
<br />rec:r~ation and environmental tourism.
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<br />If w~ look basin-wide there is lots of talk about agricul-
<br />turels share of water (80%) and that's going to be where
<br />wat~r supply changes. Not just agriculture vs. environment,
<br />but 'also agriculture vs. urban, etc. Should that be more
<br />spe~ifically mentioned? Add specific sources of competi-
<br />tion, other demands.
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<br />TH\>MAS HAVENS
<br />AMF-RICAN WATER RE:SOURCES
<br />CO~ORADO SPRINGS, co
<br />Ecq'uomic aspects of irrigation and efficient use of water are
<br />the isame concept! Its obvious Ag holds the key. Use or lose
<br />will be replaced by conserve and sell. It is simple and pow-
<br />erhil and by allowing the market to work many problems
<br />will be solved without massive regulation and counter-pro-
<br />du?tive involvement by institutions that are in fact close to
<br />obsolete,
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<br />I
<br />D~NIEL MCARTHUR
<br />cIty OF ST. GEORGE.
<br />,
<br />STI' GEORGE, UT
<br />The population growth/development currently taking place
<br />in ~outhern Utah is being well planned for and local offi-
<br />ci~ls are ensuring adequate water supplies are available to
<br />m~et the growth. Colorado River water is critical to the
<br />10r)g range plan. We need to be able to use this water for
<br />oufr citizens and at the same time ensure it is being used
<br />effectively.
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<br />SfOTT B. MCELROY
<br />G~EENE, MEYER, & McELROY
<br />8PULDER, CO
<br />Hlstorically, small family farmers have, in the words of
<br />Wallace Stegner, been the stayers in the region. The recog-
<br />nition that environmental values must occur in a way that
<br />iSlthe least disruptive of Ihe legitimate reliance concerns of
<br />t4ese interests.
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