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Show August 1968 UTAH FARM BUREAU Page 6 WATER CONFERENCE DEFINES PROBLEMS UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY . . . Agriculture is standing on the threshold of some mighty stiff competition for water' Clifford G. Mclntire told participants a Western States Conference on Water Resources here. at-ten- ing The Conference was sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation for 17 State Farm Bur- eaus in the Western part of the United States. More than 100 conferees and state water officials from 17 Western states participated in the discussions and presentations on the use and management of water, its production, allocation, and utilization. Governor of Utah, Calvin L. Rampton, opened the conference by commending the Farm Bureau organizations for their interest and efforts in the study and research of western water problems. The Governor said that the cost of water for agricultural purposes may soon become the of cost biggest production item - - even exceeding the cost of land, machinery, and - - at a time when food seed could become a scarcity in our nation as well as in the world. Nearly 25 Utah representatives attended the conference which the future use of water stressed for the millions of people expected to expand Western cities. The control of water and changes coming in the future are substantially population lems," Mr. Mclntire said. prob- Some of the most rapidly expanding areas of our country are in states rep- resented at this conference. Take a look at the Bay area East of the North and San Francisco; standing left to right, Le Grand Jarman, Clyde Lowe, Ray Frank Pearson, Alton Hoffman. Theurer, Utah representatives attending Water Conference were, left to right seated, Ruel Christensen, S. Jay Child, Elmo W. Hamilton, A. V. Smoot; Governor Calvin L. Rampton of Utah, left, was introduced by Elmo Hamilton, president of Utah Farm Bureau Federation, at the Weston the ern Farm Bureau Water Conference held on July Utah. of Utah State University, Logan, Governor Rampton campus commended the Farm Bureau representatives from 7 Western states for their interest in the study of western water problems. Travelling farthest distance to Water Conference was Robert Delano, President Virginia Farm Bureau in white jacket. Greeting him was Elmo W. Hamilton, president Utah Farm Bureau. Looking on are Clifford McIntyre, Director of Natural Resources, AFBF, right; and Bernard Harkness, president, Montana Farm Bureau, left. South suburbs of Denver; the Seattle Tacoma, Portland complex; the closing of open space from Salt Lake City to Ogden and Logan; and the outstretch of cities like Phoenix." Mclntire, director of the natural resources department of the American Farm Bureau Federation and former Congressman from Maine, explained that the Pacific and Mountain States are growing faster than other parts of the country and that water needs are rapidly changing. California farms produce more crops per acre, more milk per cow and more eggs per hen than most states of the Union and more than any foreign country, but good farm land is being lost at a rate of over 300 acres per day," he said. An affluent and mobile America has found the West," Mclna West whose past tire said, and future hinges on eater. Today 70 per cent of the water of your irrigation systems is dedicated to agriculture. But what of the future?" Recognizing that Western States have built a solid base of water law in developing a doctrine of prior appropriation," Mclntire warned them not to rest too com- fortably." When the water supply is ample or no too uncomfortably short and other supplies are on the near horizon, then reasonable solutions are found," he said, but also Old laws can be pointed out, changed. New laws will reflect new conditions, new demands, and new voting power." Is agriculMclntire asked, ture in general - - and Farm Bureau members - - ready, willing and able to meet the competitive demands that are coming for water?" Some states have declared state sovereignty on all surface and water, exercising underground jurisdiction over all users, he said. 10-1- 1 1 state is considering dis- ferent states followed each prestrict organizations to administer entation. As consumers of 70 percent of underground water, and the federal government has taken juris- all the water, American agriculdiction on all water flowing from ture has a major interest in conreserved public lands. stantly looking ahead for the promThe future of a great segment ulgation of its beneficial uses to all of your agriculture depends on how mankind and in a continuing effort successful you will be in making to supply an abundance of food to your voice and your efforts effect- A merican consumers as well as the ive where decisions will be made," world, said Leonard Johnson, AsOne he said. Other presentations at the conference Included: Water Quality Standards - What Will it Cost?; Water Use and Management - Who Will Pay the Bill?; State Water Plans - What do they mean to Agriculture?; Underground Water Management and Use; and Watershed Management - How Can More Water Be Produced? Panel dis- cussions by water teams and representatives from the dif sistant Natural ReDepartment, American Farm Bureau Federation. A highlight of the conference was the national legislative report by Roger Fleming, secretary-treasurer, American Farm sources Director, Bureau Federation and director of .... the organization's Washington who said fice, for all Americans of- It's time to reaffirm of the American system of constit their .faith in the basic tenets utional government , private enterprise and individual responsibility. The onrush toward overcentralization of power in the Federal government - - so evident in the natural resources field - - is a threat to self government as we have known it in the United States." Other conference speakers and officials on the program Included Dr. Dean F. Peterson, Dean, College of Engineering, Utah State University (currently on leave) and Director, Office of Water for Peace, U.S. Department of State, Washington , D. C.; Verne Tenney, Water Quality Standards Coordinator, Western Region Federal Water Pollution Administration, San Francisco, California; Warren D. Fairchild , Executive Secretary, Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Commission, State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska; H. T. Nelson, Bureau of Regional Director, Reclamation, Boise, Idaho; and Jay Bingham, Executive Director of Western States' Water Salt Lake City, Utah. Council, Chairmen of the various sesthe conference sions during were state Farm Bureau presidents who are also members of the American Farm Bureau Board of Directors: Floyd Hawkins, President of Arizona Farm Bureau; Lloyd Sommervllle, President of Colorado Farm Bureau; Herbert Livingston, President of Farm Bureau; and Wyoming Allen Grant, President of California Farm Bureau. Elmo Hamilton, President of the Utah Farm Bureau, hosted the Wednesday afternoon group tour of the Utah Water Research Laboratory .. in Logan. |