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<br />lG7J <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />i'" <br />. 'i~'y <br />GOVERNMENT, IF THE PRESlilENT IS SINCERE IN HIS POLICY '1'0 INCREASE <br />STATE FINANCIAL PARTIC~PATION IN FEDERAL WATER PROJECTS, HE WILL PUT <br />AN END TO SUCH ATTACKS AND TAKE POSITIVE STEPS TO ASSURE FEDERAL <br />GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCING FOR <br />WATER RESOURCE PROJECTS. <br /> <br />. , <br /> <br />CONSERVATION OF SOIL AND WATER HAS BECOME AKIN TO A RELIGION <br />FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS SINCE THE 1930'S ESPECIALLY TO THE PEOPLE <br />LIVING IN THE STATES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE TRADITIONAL <br />CONCEPT OF CONSERVATION HAS BEEN THE WISE USE AND RE-USE OF OUR RE- <br />NEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE FOOD AND FIBER NECESSARY TO <br />A QUALIT~~IFE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. <br /> <br />A NEW DEFINITION OF CONSERVATION AS RELATED TO WATER RESOURCES IS <br />BEING THRUST UPON ,US BY THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH HAS FAR REACHING <br />IMPLICATIONS. PRESIDENT CARTER, IN EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR,WATER <br />CONSERVATION, IS ADVANC~NG.A"DEFINITION WHICH LIMITS USE AND EFFEC- <br />TIVELY STOPS DEVELOPMENT. <br /> <br />IF WE LIMIT THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR WATER RESOURCES AND <br />EXPERIENCE A CONTINUED GROWTH IN POPULATION A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION <br />IN PER CAPITA WATER USE WILL BE REQUIRED. WHILE CERTAIN EFFICIENCIES <br />IN WATER USE CAN AND SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED, A BASIC, REDUCTION IN <br />WATER USE MEANS A LOWERING OF OUR NATIONAL LIVING STANDARDS. OUR <br />EFFORTS SHOULD BE POINTED AT .RAISING OUR LIVING STANDARDS, ESPECIALLY <br />FOR LOW INCOME SEGMENTS' OF OUR "15"oPuLATION , NOT 'LOWERING OUR NATIONAL <br />STANDARD. <br /> <br />A SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF THE NATION'S WATER RESOURCE IS USED IN <br />AGRICULTURE. AGAIN TECHNOLOGY CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY <br />OF WATER APPLICATION FOR IRRIGATION AND FOR FOOD AND FIBER PROCESSING. <br />THE FACTS ARE THAT WE ARE ALREADY MINING VAST AMOUNTS OF GROUNDWATER <br />AND THE DEMAND FOR FOOD AND FIBER IS INCREASING. CONSERVATION OF <br />WATER OR A REDUCTION OF USE OF WATER ON HISTORICALLY IRRIGATED ACRE- <br />AGES CANNOT POSSIBLY MEET FUTURE NEEDS. <br /> <br />OUR NATIONAL .STRENGTH EMANATES '"FROM . OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION <br />OF FOOD AND FIBER. THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS OF THIS NATION ARE THE <br />MOST PROFICIENT IN THE WORLD WITH THE PROVEN CAPABILITY OF FEEDING <br />THE UNITED STATES WITH SURPLUSES..AVAILABLE TO FEED AND CLOTHE A HUNGRY <br />WORLD. WE BOAST AND ARE JUSTLY PROUD OF THE INDUSTRIAL MIGHT OF OUR <br />NATION AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES OF OUR SCIENTISTS AND EN- <br />GINEERS, BUT, WITHOUT THE CAPABILITY OF. FEEDING OURSELVES, NONE OF <br />THIS INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL GROWTH WOULD BE POSSIBLE. FAILURE <br />TO MAINTAIN OUR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH IRRIGATION AND OTHER <br />MEANS OF INTENSIFIED FARMING WILL INEVITABLY LEAD TO A WEAKENED AMERICA. <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />I HAVE WATCHED WITH DEEP CONCERN THE DETERMINED EFFORT OF THE <br />ADMINISTRATION, THROUGH SECRETARY OF INTERIOR CECIL ANDRUS, TO STRICTLY <br />ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE RECLAMATION ACT OF 1902. THIS STRICT <br />ENFORCEMENT AFTER MANY YEARS OF RATHER LAX INTERPRETATION OF THE VARIOUS <br />PROVISIONS HAS CAUSED A SUBSTANTIAL CONTROVERSY AND A GREAT DEAL OF <br /> <br />- 5 - <br />