Water.
"We oppose congressional, judicial, and executive abrogation of the principle that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. We oppose unreasonable and intrusive federal mandates." - Republican Party Platform
Agriculture accounts for roughly 80% water use in Utah
One of the main challenges in growing crops is the irrigation system. An optimum amount of water needs to be supplied to the crops, after analyzing various environmental conditions. The traditional way of determining the amount of water to be used can lead to wastage of this precious resource. There are ways to improve water efficiency
The Utah pioneers, in the late 1840's, were the first Anglo-Saxons to practice irrigation on an extensive scale in the United States. Being a desert, Utah contained much more cultivable land than could be watered from the incoming mountain streams. The principle was established that those who first made beneficial use of water should be entitled to continued use in preference to those who came later. This fundamental principal was later sanctioned in law and is known as the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation. This means those holding water rights with the earliest priority dates, and who have continued beneficial use of the water, have the right to water from a certain source before others with water rights having later priority dates.
Many owners of early priority water rights in Utah are multi-generational families who typically use flood irrigation techniques. Not a very efficient way of irrigation. New technology in spray irrigation systems can analyze the various environmental conditions and optimize the amount of water needed to supply the crops. These systems can then set schedules, intervals and conditions configuring the thresholds to suit optimal conditions allowing for as much as 90% efficiency in the use of water.
The challenge is these systems can be very expensive. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because we need food to live, and we have created a government to provide services we would normally be required to do ourselves, facilitating more efficient use of water to irrigate crops and grow food is the proper role of government.
Let's start here. The state has a large surplus of our tax money. If we are serious about addressing Utah's water issues, it is not about watering lawns. I believe the Legislature should develop a program of low interest loans, tax credits and even federal and state grants to incent these multi-generational farmers to invest in these modern efficient systems to grow our food. The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation may have to be revisited for the benefit of all.
After all, water is our most precious resource and we cannot live without it. We must recognize it as a finite resource and be vigilant in our management of its use.
Many owners of early priority water rights in Utah are multi-generational families who typically use flood irrigation techniques. Not a very efficient way of irrigation. New technology in spray irrigation systems can analyze the various environmental conditions and optimize the amount of water needed to supply the crops. These systems can then set schedules, intervals and conditions configuring the thresholds to suit optimal conditions allowing for as much as 90% efficiency in the use of water.
The challenge is these systems can be very expensive. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because we need food to live, and we have created a government to provide services we would normally be required to do ourselves, facilitating more efficient use of water to irrigate crops and grow food is the proper role of government.
Let's start here. The state has a large surplus of our tax money. If we are serious about addressing Utah's water issues, it is not about watering lawns. I believe the Legislature should develop a program of low interest loans, tax credits and even federal and state grants to incent these multi-generational farmers to invest in these modern efficient systems to grow our food. The Doctrine of Prior Appropriation may have to be revisited for the benefit of all.
After all, water is our most precious resource and we cannot live without it. We must recognize it as a finite resource and be vigilant in our management of its use.
