Drought has forced large-scale commercial farmers in southern Colorado's scenic San Luis Valley to pull groundwater through center-point irrigation systems, but pumping has depleted aquifers by more than 1 million acre-feet since 1976 and has started to affect surface streams, which are strained because of drought. Plans to reduce aquifer irrigation by 30,000 acre-feet a year must be in place by May to avoid well shutdowns, reports Bruce Finley of The Denver Post. (Finley photo)
Farmers have proposed buying surface-water rights to offset aquifer pumping, and while water may be conserved, the increased cost may remove 80,000 acres of farmland from production. This will be an economic blow to the area, where there's a 38 percent child poverty rate, Finley reports. Surface-water rights fees will likely increase from $45 an acre to $75, making an irrigated crop circle cost as much as $20,000. Brian Neufeld, a potato farmer, said this could mean layoffs, fewer employees and less crop production. Some think this starts the decline of their farms.
The farms lie in the upper Rio Grande River watershed. An interstate compact restricts water withdrawals from the river and its tributaries. Texas and New Mexico have sued Colorado in the past for drawing too much. Enforcement of the compact has tightened because of massive drought in those states. Steve Vandiver, manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, said it's time for commercial farms "to pay for the impacts they are causing to the river." (Read more)
The farms lie in the upper Rio Grande River watershed. An interstate compact restricts water withdrawals from the river and its tributaries. Texas and New Mexico have sued Colorado in the past for drawing too much. Enforcement of the compact has tightened because of massive drought in those states. Steve Vandiver, manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, said it's time for commercial farms "to pay for the impacts they are causing to the river." (Read more)
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