STATEMENT ON FLORIDA PROJECT, COLORADO The potential Florida project is planned primarily to supply irrigation water to, and thus increase the agricultural production on, 18,950 acres of Florida Mesa and Florida River Valley lands in the upper Colorado River Basin in southwestern Colorado. The lands include 12,650 acres presently irrigated with only a partial supply and 6,300 acres presently not irrigated. Approximately 1,000 acres of the land, including 100 acres partially irrigated and 900 acres now unirrigated, are owned by Indians. In addition to irrigation values, the project would provide some enhancement in fish and wildlife values in the area and affect some decrease in flood damages along Florida River. With project development, the irrigated lands would be utilized largely for the support of livestock enterprises as now practiced in the area. Climatically adaptable crops, such as small grains, alfalfa, hay, pasture, and some pinto beans, potatoes, apples, vegetables, and berries, would be produced. Analyses made indicate that a family-size farm would provide the farm family with a reasonable standard of living, provide employment for the available labor, and permit payment of operation, maintenance, and replacement costs of project facilities and some payment toward the construction costs of project facilities. Preliminary land-classification surveys indicate that project lands would be suitable for sustained production of crops under irrigation farming. Detailed land classification would be required to confirm the suitability of all the lands. 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 with permissible shortages in occasional drought years. The increase in irrigation supply would average 23,200 acre-feet annually including 6,900 acre-feet of direct flows and 16,300 acre-feet of storage water. Water rights for the project could be obtained under Colorado State law. Construction features of the project would include the Lemon Dam and Reservoir with a total capacity of 23,300 acre-feet to store water on Florida River, construction of a new diversion dam on Florida River at the head of the existing Florida Farmers ditch, enlargement and extension of the existing Florida Farmers ditch diverting from Florida River, and some distribution and drainage facilities. Water would be released from the reservoir as needed and conveyed in the natural river channel to heads of various downstream canals and ditches that would divert the flow for distribution to project lands. A 3- to 4-year period would be required to complete construction of the project. This statement is based on the physical plan of project development presented in the Bureau of Reclamation report on the Florida project, Colorado, dated January 1951, 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. 6, 900 16, 300 23, 200 12, 900 Alfalfa, grains-dairy cows and beef. Average annual increase in direct flow diversions-- Construction features include Lemon Dam and Reservoir with a total capacity of 23,300 acre-feet, a diversion dam on Florida River, enlargement and extension of existing Florida Farmers ditch, and some distribution laterals and drains. STATEMENT ON PINE RIVER PROJECT EXTENSION, COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO The potential Pine River project extension would provide distribution canals to deliver water made available by the existing Pine River project to irrigate 15,150 acres of land now unirrigated in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico. Of this acreage 1,940 acres are within the boundaries of the existing Pine River Indian irrigation project. The Pine River project, consisting of Vallecito Dam and Reservoir of 126,280 acre-feet active capacity on Pine River, was authorized for construction in 1937 to provide storage water for 69,000 acres and was substantially completed and placed in operation by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1941. About half of the lands to be served were under canals and partially irrigated at the time of construction and now receive supplemental water from Vallecito Reservoir. The remaining lands had no distribution facilities at the time of construction. Facilities for these lands were not included as part of the original project as it was thought that the works required were relatively minor and could be undertaken by the water users with private capital. The required works proved so costly, however, that they have not been private constructed. As a result, canal systems for the lands that can be economically developed at the present time are planned for Federal construction as the Pine River project extension. With development of the extension the irrigated lands would be utilized largely for the support of livestock enterprises as now practiced in the general locality. Major crops that would be produced on the extension lands are hay and small grains with some potatoes, pinto beans, and early maturing vegetables, and berries also grown. Principal livestock would be dairy cows and beef cattle. The project extension would consist of the enlargement and extension of 8 major canals and ditches diverting from Pine River, the construction of 1 new diversion dam on Pine River, and the construction of a number of small distribution laterals. Over half the extension lands would be served by enlargement and extension of the existing King consolidated canal and construction of a new diversion dam at the head of this canal. The other canals and ditches to be enlarged and extended include the Pine River canal and the Myers-Asher, Bennet and Myers, Bear Creek, and Pine River, Sullivan, Shroder extension, and Thompson Epperson ditches. A period of 3 to 4 years would be required to complete definite plan investigations and construction of the extension works. Preliminary land classification surveys indicate the extension lands to be suitable for sustained crop production under irrigation farming. A detailed classification is necessary to confirm the suitability of all the lands. Water supply studies, based on records of streamflows as they have occurred in the past, indicate that an adequate water supply would be available for the development from direct flows and storage water from the existing Vallecito Reservoir. A water right for the project can be obtained under Colorado and New Mexico State laws. This statement is based on the physical plan of development presented in the report on Pine River project extension, Colorado and New Mexico, dated January 1951-a supplement to the Colorado River storage project report dated December 1950. Results of current (January 1953) Bureau of Reclamation estimates for this development plan are summarized in the following project summary tabulation. Summary data, Pine River project extension, Colorado and New Mexico Storage at existing Vallecito Reservoir of 126,280 acre-feet active capacity of which some 20 to 25 percent of such capacity would be available to the Pine River project extension lands. Colorado Average annual stream depletion (acre-feet) 27,200 Project works: New Mexico Total 1,100 28,300 New construction features include enlargement and extension of eight canals and ditches, a diversion dam, and a number of distribution laterals. Construction cost and repayment: Estimated cost____ Reimbursable allocation to irrigation... Nonreimbursable cost allocation---. Repayment by: $5,027,000 5,027,000 None 1 Return flow of 4,250 acre-feet would also be diverted, making a total diversion of water by extension lands, of 49,700 acre-feet. 5,027,000 18, 950 |