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<br />0273 <br /> <br />. Describe the water quality of the water supply at the Ft. Lyon headgate, water qua!:ty ~f <br />return flows after agricultural use, and water quality conditions for the existing crop <br />production. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Describe the organizational suucture of the canal company and its relationship to the 200 <br />lateral companies. The contractual relationship with the Amity Canal Company will also be <br />documented through a review and summation of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of <br />these entities. Summarize major delivery contracts. <br /> <br />'bLl@"'~ <br />('Q.;..V<" <br />1~~ <br /> <br />Existing maps and repons of the canal company. Kansas v Colorado exhibits, and documents from the <br />State of Colorado and USGS will be used to the maximum extent to minimize the cost. <br /> <br />TASK 3B - Ft. Lvon Service Area and Surroundinl! Communities <br /> <br />The primary study area impacted by the Ft. Lyon Canal system includes Otero, Bent, and Prowers <br />Counties and the southern portions of Crowley and Kiowa Counties. The area includes the Towns of <br />Rocky Ford, Swink, LaJunta, Las Animas, Lamar, and several smaller communities. A larger secondary uP l, <br />impact area includes the stockraising areas that depend on winter feed grown by Ft. Lyon farmers. The ~~..D <br />local stockfeeding market would need to find more distant sources of feed if the Ft. Lyon supply were ~ <br />not available. <br /> <br />-1~r' <br /> <br />Agricuiture (primarily irrigated agriculture) and agribusiness are the main economic activities in the <br />primary study area. There also is tetail and some wholesale trade, some recreation-based tourism, a <br />service sector and a government sector serving the study area's communities and fanns. The Arkansas <br />Valley provides about one-twelfth of Colorado's agricultural production, and is the driving force in the <br />economy of southeastern Colorado. Its service sector supplies a somewhat larger region including <br />ruratJ the adjacent states. <br /> <br />The communities of the study area ate concerned about the loss and aging of the population, and the <br />accompanying weakening of the economy. Economic development plans exist and there has been <br />some success in economic diversification. Yet it is commonly believed that economic stability and <br />potential economic growth depend on reversing the decline of irrigated agriculture and on stopping <br />the hemorrhage of water rights from the Valley. <br /> <br />TASK 3B involves gathering existing economic, demographic/sociological, and environmental data from <br />numerous existing sources and preparing a comprehensive description of the Ft. Lyon study area. <br />Profiles of Ft. Lyon water users and of the study area communities will be developed. Demographic <br />and economic profiles will be forecast for the foreseeable future, based on a continuation of existing <br />trends. An estimate will be made of population levels necessary to stabilize the present economy of <br />the area and its present institutions (e.g., schools, hospitals, public services). The significance of the <br />Ft. Lyon Canal system to the economic and physical environment of the study area will be assessed. <br /> <br />The environmental elements of the Ft. Lyon service area are likely to be impacted by change of <br />company operations. Other data. such as the economic impacts of wildlife propagation, goose, dove. <br />and pheasant hunting developed in the Great Plains Reservoirs Study. will be included. Endangered <br />species and the Nonh American Flyway forage are additional considerations. These data are available <br />from studies sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and conducted by the University of <br /> <br />12 <br />