STATEMENT ON SMITH FORK PROJECT, COLORADO The potential Smith Fork project in west-central Colorado would regulate surplus flows of Iron Creek and the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River, a tributary of the upper Colorado River, to increase the irrigation supply for 8,160 acres of land now partially irrigated, and provide a new supply for 2,270 acres now unirrigated. Although an improved irrigation supply would permit new lands to be cultivated and result in better crop yields on presently irrigated lands, the cropping program is largely controlled by climatic, soil, and topographic conditions. Most of the acreage would continue to be utilized for the production of livestock feeds with hay, small grains, and pasture predominating. Increased feed production in the area would result mostly in increased dairy cows with some increase also in beef cattle, hogs, and poultry. Detailed land-classification surveys show the project lands to be suitable for sustained production of crops under irrigation farming. Water-supply studies, based on records of streamflows as they have occurred in the past, indicate that an adequate irrigation supply would be available for the project from direct flows and storage water, with permissible shortages in occasional drought years. A water right for the project can be obtained under Colorado State law. Construction features of the project include a storage dam and reservoir with 14,000 acre-feet total capacity at the Crawford site on Iron Creek, the Smith Fork diversion dam, the 2.7 mile-long Smith Fork feeder canal of 100 second-feet to divert from Smith Fork to Crawford Reservoir, the 6.6-mile Aspen Canal of 145 second-feet initial capacity to convey water from Crawford Reservoir to part of the project lands and feed existing ditches and four small lateral canals. Existing irrigation facilities in the area would be utilized as fully as practicable. A period of 3 to 4 years would be required to complete definite plan investigations and construct the project works. This statement is based on the physical plan of project development presented in the Bureau of Reclamation report on the Smith Fork project, Colorado-a supplement to the Colorado River storage project report dated December 1950. Results of current (January 1953) Bureau of Reclamation estimates for this project plan are summarized in the following project summary tabulation. Acre-feet Average annual increase from direct-flow diversions and storage____ 13, 650 Stream depletion (average annual)_. Principal agricultural production: Alfalfa, pasture, and grain; dairy cows and beef. Water supply: Project works: 7,500 The construction features include the Crawford Dam and Reservoir, with 14,000 acre-feet of total capacity, Smith Fork diversion dam, the 2.7-milelong Smith Fork feeder canal of 100 second-feet, 6.6-mile-long Aspen Canal of 145 second-feet and 4 small lateral canals. STATEMENT ON PAONIA PROJECT, COLORADO The potential Paonia project would divert water from the North Fork of the Gunnison River in the upper Colorado River Basin to improve the irrigation water supply, and thus the agricultural production, of 17,040 acres of land in west-central Colorado. Of these lands 14,830 acres are presently irrigated and 2,210 acres are arable but not now irrigated. Fish and wildlife values in the area would be enhanced and flood damages would be decreased. The general type of farming now practiced in the area would be continued with project development but the additional irrigation supplies would make possible a more intensive crop production. Production of livestock foods and fruit, such as apples, peaches, and cherries, would continue to be the major crops grown. Principal livestock would be dairy cows and beef cattle. Under the project plan, the Spring Creek Dam and Reservoir would be constructed at a site on Muddy Creek 1 mile above its junction with the North Fork River. The reservoir would have a capacity of 18,000 acre-feet, of which 11,000 acre-feet would be active and 7,000 acre-feet would be reserved for sediment retention and dead storage. The existing Fire Mountain Canal diverting from the North Fork River 5 miles below the Spring Creek Dam would be enlarged and extended. The enlarged canal would be capable of diverting an increased amount of natural streamflow during the early irrigation season and in the late season its supply would be supplemented by water released from the reservoir. In this manner the irrigation water supply for lands under the Fire Mountain Canal would be improved and through its extension the canal would also serve lands on Rogers Mesa that heretofore have been irrigated from Leroux Creek, a tributary of the North Fork River. The Leroux Creek water thus released from Rogers Mesa would be diverted into the higher Overland Canal, which would be improved and enlarged for this purpose, and used to augment the present irrigation supply for lands on Redlands Mesa. Beginning at a point on the Fire Mountain Canal 9 miles below its head, the Minnesota siphon would be constructed to convey part of the water southward 12,000 feet across the North Fork River to the existing Minnesota Canal. Water-supply studies based on records of streamflows as they have occurred in the past indicate that with project development the irrigation supply for project lands would be increased by 18,500 acre-feet annually from direct flows and storage yield. The increase in stream depletion attributable to the development is estimated at an average of 9,000 acre-feet annually. Land-classification surveys indicate that the lands would be suitable for sustained crop production under irrigation farming. Some further detailed classification would be required to confirm the suitability of all the lands, particularly in the Leroux Creek and Minnesota areas. The project, exclusive of the Minnesota unit, was authorized, under a modification of the above-described plan, by act of Congress on June 25, 1947. Enlargement and extension of the Fire Mountain Canal has been essentially completed under this authorization. Reauthorization of the project, under the revised plan described above, was recommended in the Bureau of Reclamation report on the Paonia project, Colorado, dated February 1951, a supplement to the Colorado River storage project report dated December 1950. Results of current (January 1953) Bureau of Reclamation estimates for the physical plan of the project is covered in the Paonia project report of February 1951 are summarized in the following project summary tabulation. Principal agricultural production: Alfalfa, grain, apples, peaches; dairy cows and beef cattle. Water supply: Average annual increase in direct-flow diversions_. Total_. Stream depletion (average annual). Project works: Acre-feet 7,500 11,000 18,500 9,000 The construction features include the Spring Creek Dam and Reservoir with 18,000 acre-feet total capacity, enlargement and extension of the Fire Mountain and Overland Canals and the Minnesota siphon. The enlargement and extension of the Fire Mountain Canal is essentially completed under prior project authorization. Annual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs---- 6, 791, 600 11,100 1.6 to 1 1 Based on 68-year repayment period as provided under project authorizing act of 1947. |