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<br /> <br />PLANNING OBJECTIVES <br /> <br />The three subbasin States differ somewhat in their views of <br />comprehensive water resources planning and in their preparation <br />of State water plans. Colorado has completed two of three phases <br />of a traditional State water plan, a resource inventory and legal <br />framework, both done in cooperation with the Water and Power <br />Resources Service. The State's near term objective is to prepare <br />phase III, the water resources management plan. <br /> <br />In Kansas, the State water plan is coordinated through the <br />Water Resources Board, and portions are prepared with assistance <br />from Federal agencies. The plan is effected only after <br />legislative enactment and is updated on a regular basis. <br /> <br />Nebraska has abandoned the concept of a State framework plan <br />in favor of a recently enacted State water planning and review <br />process. The process is intended to be issue oriented, with the <br />near term objective of providing the basis for wise legislative <br />decisions concerning the State's water resources. <br /> <br />It is an objective of all three States to promote the <br />development of irrigated agriculture. Each recognizes irrigation <br />as a high priority bsneficial use of water necessary for the <br />State's economy. A specific objective of the State of Kansas is <br />to reduce the rapid decline of ground water resources necessary <br />for irrigation in the western part of the State. Colorado wants <br />to provide additional storage for irrigation water on the South <br />Platte River and its tributaries, and promotes system <br />rehabilitation and other water conservation measures. Further, <br />Colorado opposes the conversion of prime agricultural land and <br />water suitable for irrigated agriculture to other uses. In <br />Nebraska, the State legislature has declared the use of water for <br />irrigation "natural want", which illustrates the high priority <br />attached to irrigation in Nebraska. <br /> <br />Each of the three States in the Kansas Subbasin desires to <br />reduce damages caused by floods through a combination of <br />structural and nonstructural measures. Kansas has enacted <br />legislation which defines the specific levels of flood protection <br />to be provided for various types of lands. <br /> <br />Although it is an objective of each State to preserve fish <br />and wildlife resources and habitat, only Colorado officially <br /> <br />-210- <br />