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<br />FREE TEST WATER DRY WEATHER <br />AN INCENTIVE TO IRRIGATE <br /> <br />Because the system is just <br />starting up and has not been <br />thoroughly tested the water <br />supplied to the farmers is <br />at no cost. In addition <br />June and July were both hotter <br />and drier than normal. These <br />two facts coupled with the <br />natural desire to irrigate <br />has caused sprinkler systems <br />to crop up like weeds. In <br />the 6 week period from June <br />10th to Aug 20th 40 separate <br />sprinklers have been installed <br />and put into operation by <br />19 landowners including 8 <br />that are for garden use. <br />That is considerably more <br />participation than the District <br />had expected. <br /> <br />RESULTS OF THE WATER ARE <br />VIVID <br /> <br />,-- <br /> <br />.~-~" <br /> <br />.',^;';:.>; <br /> <br /> <br />Just a hint of the crop production <br />potential that water brings <br />is apparent as one drives <br />by the presently operating <br />sprinkler systems, There <br />is a sharp contrast that <br />needs no explanation, not <br />only in the color, but in <br />visible yield. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />INITIAL INVESTMENT COST LOWER <br />THAN ANTICIPATED <br /> <br />Initial investment for the <br />sprinkler and pipe systems <br />range from $120 per acre <br />for used side rolls with <br />above ground delivery pipe <br />to $270 per acre for new <br />quarter section center pivots. <br />Assuming these initial costs <br />were financed for 6 years <br />for the used and 10 years <br />for the new systems at 10% <br />interest the cost per acre <br />per year would vary from <br />$27 to $39. CSU & SCS had <br />indicated that cost would <br />be $45 to $50 for 10 years. <br /> <br />WATER SPURS REAL ESTATE SALES <br /> <br />The "bottom line" in all <br />the activity is that recent <br />land sales demonstrate that <br />not only is land receiving <br />wa ter considerably more val uable <br />than adjacent land, there <br />is much more interest in <br />the watered areas. Sales <br />indicate that land with a <br />water allocation is selling <br />for $300 to $550, while dry <br />land is bringing $225 to <br />$325, <br /> <br />PROJECT LANDOWNERS REAP BENEFIT <br /> <br />If this trend continues as <br />is expected, quarter section <br />landowners who wish to sell <br />can eventually realize a <br />sizeable dollar value for <br />only having signed their <br />name on a water petition <br />ten years ago. <br /> <br />DWCD WEED SPRAYING PROGRAM <br />SHOWS RESULTS <br /> <br />In response to concerns of <br />full service farmers who <br />feared that the water would <br />carry noxious weed seed with <br />