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O~'1556 Civil Rights~ hiah medium Need to evaluate the effects Coordinating Activities hiah medium Need to evaluate data IWM/lNater Conservation The watershed has a water deficiency due to an inefficient irrigation water delivery system as well as lower on-farm water application effectiveness. Efficiencies of the delivery system decreased after Pueblo Reservoir was built due to increased seepage which has been caused by the delivery of cleaner water. The decrease in the number of irrigated cropland laborers has contributed to this ineffectiveness. Lower water application effectiveness increases the deep percolation and runoff that carries the trace elements, heavy metals, nutrients and salts to the drains and creeks and finally back to the Arkansas River. The groundwater quality is also impaired due to deep percolation. Water Qualitv/Surface and Groundwater The irrigation water application ineffectiveness reduces surface and groundwater quality to a level that it no longer meets EPA and State standards for nitrates in wells. Selenium, salts, uranium, heavy metals, trace elements, and sediment are also a problem in the wells and the Arkansas River. Irriaation Induced Erosion Scoping found that the upper portion of irrigated fields has been deteriorated by erosion and the resources base is not being protected. Productivity is also being lost from the erosion and sedimentation. The amount of erosion occurring has been impacted by Pueblo Reservoir clean water according to a Cooperative Extension Service report. Sedimentation The sediment coming off the upper portions of the irrigated fields is being deposited on the lower portions of the field and into drains, creeks, and the Arkansas River. This sediment deposition on fields lowers the productivity potential. The sediment also carries nitrates, trace elements, heavy metals, and other pollutants into the streams and reduces channel capacity and the quality of fish and wildlife habitat. This also reduces the storage capacity of John Martin Reservoir. Prime and Imoortant Farmlands The resource base is being deteriorated by irrigation induced erosion and sedimentation. Social/Economic Scoping found that reduced water quality, lower effective irrigation water application as well as irrigation induced erosion has reduced yield, changed cropping patterns from higher valued crops and thereby reduced the income of the watershed area. Irrigated agriculture and livestock contribute to the major portions of the economy of the area. 27