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Show SECTION 10 STATE WATER PLAN - JORDAN RIVER BASIN AGRICULTURAL WATER As the Jordan River Basin population has grown, many of the agricultural areas have been converted to residential or commercial developments, significantly reducing the total irrigated acreage during the past 30 years. 10.1 Introduction This section describes the agricultural water use in the Jordan River Basin. It also identifies and discusses key issues associated with agricultural water conservation. Also, some proposed solutions to the problems and needs of the area are presented. 10.2 Background Historically, agriculture has been an important industry in the Jordan River Basin. Today, however, the basin has just over 43,800 acres of cultivated lands, of which approximately 25,300 acres are irrigated. Although agriculture continues to be an important part of the overall state economy, urbanization makes it's role increasingly less significant in the socio- economic development. Still, agricultural water use plays an important role in overall water planning in terms of quantity and quality. In recent decades, the Salt Lake Valley has experienced widespread growth. Much of the residential expansion has been in what was predominately agricultural areas in the western, south- central, and southeast portions of the valley, primarily the West Valley City, West Jordan, South Jordan, Draper, Riverton and Bluffdale areas with considerable growth in the Sandy area. These are lands that have been served by canals on the west and east side of the valley. Salt Lake County's master plan, titled Salt Lake Valley 1965, identified agricultural land use as a valuable asset to the valley's socio- economic welfare. The plan called for 80 square miles ( 51,200 acres) of highly productive farmland to be held in reserve against the encroachment of urban and commercial development. That county plan, however, was not mandatory but advisory. As a result, no steps were ,•... Population growth encroaches on productive farmland in areas such as South Jordan 10- 1 |