The Water Information Program

Conserving irrigation water could benefit water quality and might make more water available for all uses, a study shows. But in order to fully benefit, some technical, legal and administrative changes need to be made, according to a recent report by the Colorado Agricultural Water Alliance. “What we are concerned about is the conservation of ag water,” said Don Shawcroft, vice president of the Colorado Farm Bureau and a San Luis Valley rancher. he alliance presented its study of agricultural efficiency last week at the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. The study started in 2005. The study was completed with the help of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and other state agencies. About one-third of Colorado irrigated farmland, or 1 million acres, has been converted to more efficient irrigation methods like sprinklers or drip irrigation. But the state has not come to grips with how to use water saved or salvaged by these methods, the report indicates.

To view the full article, visit the Pueblo Chieftain. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango. Photo courtesy of the Pueblo Chieftain.