OCR Text |
Show Effect of Unit Operation and Maintenance Activities The annual cost of operating and maintaining the Unit would be in excess of $ 1.5 million, of this amount, about $ 900,000 would be for labor and the balance for equipment, supplies, and materials. An equivalent of about 120 full- time workers would be employed to operate and maintain the Unit, and this employment would continue throughout the proposed 100- year life of the Unit. Employment of this magnitude, although not large when compared with State totals, would exceed the employment of most single businesses in the State. The equipment and supplies used for the operation of the Unit would include such items as trucks, tractors, building materials, etc. These would be purchased largely from or through local merchants and would be serviced and repaired by local craftsmen. Effect of Unit Irrigation New and more reliable supplemental irrigation water supplies provided by the Unit would help to stabilize the farm economy and slow the urbanization encroachment trend. Most of this irrigation supply would be used on presently irrigated lands. New lands served a full supply would be upgraded in status from idle or grazing land to irrigated land. In 1972 there were 29,235 acres of wheat " set aside" in the 12 counties of the Conservancy District upon which no wheat was produced and upon which farmers received a payment from the Federal Government. Most of these acres are dry land upon which only wheat can successfully be grown. With Unit water, a large part of these acres would be diverted to other legumes, as well as fruit and vegetables. Crops thus grown would produce meat, milk, and other products which are needed throughout the Nation and world. Minor changes in land use would occur in connection with Unit- induced recreation. Only a small percentage of land would be taken out of production for recreational purposes. Development of new farms and the stabilization of many existing farms would benefit bu? inesses within the State and to a lesser degree within the Nation, New houses and buildings would be constructed, new tractors and equipment would be purchased, land would be leveled, and livestock would be purchased, along with many other necessary supplies. 385 |