| OCR Text |
Show Dissolved solids concentrations of up to 750 mg/ l are generally- suitable for agricultural use'. Water quality samples taken from the Green River station near Green River, Utah, ranged from a high. of 599 mg/ l in'- 1967 to a low of 300 mg/ l in 1956. Averages for the period of 19UI through 1968 which are shown above are below the 750 mg/ l limit. • Issue h: Present Bureau of Reclamation policy regarding reimbursement of the Bonneville Unit costs attributable to irrigation is no longer equitable. Issue raised by: State of Utah Sierra Club National Wildlife Federation individuals Response: - The entities who have raised this issue point out ( a) that irrigation subsidy is unjustified at this time: ( b) about 60 percent of the water developed by the Bonneville Unit is allocated to irrigation, yet farmers would pay less than 10 percent of this allocated cost; ( c) irrigation is subsidized at the expense of other worthwhile activities and at high environmental cost; and ( d) studies are needed to explore alternate ways to finance and repay project costs. The term " irrigation" encompasses many values, some received by the water users and some by the general public. This principle was recognized by Congress in the Reclamation Act of 1902 and has been re- affirmed repeatedly over the years, including the P. L. 8U- I+ 85 ' which authorized the Central Utah and other participating projects. In recognition of this, Congress has imposed repayment criteria equal to estimated repayment ability- and while requiring full repayment of irrigation costs, did not impose repayment on farmers for benefits received by the general public. Recreation joint costs associated with utilization of a reservoir such as Strawberry have been allocated to irrigation, power, and municipal and industrial water because of the repayment criteria imposed in the enacting legislation- and as such will be repaid from Project and related revenues. A legitimate question at this point would be to ask " who or what is being subsidized"? . ...,•'.: ........:'.'.:; ,. .. v. . :,';: - • '••''•• : - •- If the analysis is continued, it is observed that, were the secondary effects of irrigation fully quantified, the return to society as a result of the irrigation portion of the Unit over the 100- year life of the Unit, would be many times over the costs of the irrigation water. The above estimates were derived from a study conducted in Nebraska.^^ Similar results could be expected to occur in Utah. 648 |
