WSP09444

• File Number: 8407
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 5/1/1967
• Author: BOR
• Title: Reconnaissance Report - St Vrain Unit-Colorado Longs Peak Division - Missouri River Basin Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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PARTV--AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

LAND RESOURCES AND UTILIZATION

The major portion of the irrigated lands is topographically
well suited for irrigation. The general land sur~ace is smooth to
slightly undulating. Much of the land has been leveled to attain
a finer degree of gradient and surface for maximum uniformity of
water distribution. In areas where excessive gradient is a factor,
contour methods of irrigation and cropping practices have been
introduced to minimize erosion.

The majority of the soils in the area are adapted to irrigated
crop production. Their textures range from loanw sand to heavy clay,
with fine sandy loam predominating.

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Natural drainage of the upland and river terraces of the area,
as a whole, is very good. Small tributary streams reaching into
practically every part of the area favor rapid surface runoff, and
as most of the land is underlain with gravel or sand, adequate
internal drainage is assured. Seep areas have developed where
excessive amounts of irrigation water have been used without providing
for drainage. Considerable artificial drainage has been accomplished
in the area by individual or partnership drainage systems.

Most of the land in the area is only slightly saline and is
free from harmful accumulation of alkali. The soluble salt content
of the water used for irrigation is very low; consequently, alkalinity
and salinity should never constitute a serious problem on the majority
of irrigated lands. Most of the irrigated land has consistently pro-,
duced high yields of a wide range of cillimatically adapted crops. There"
is no reason to anticipate a decrease in the present crop yields, or
that high yields cannot be maintained indefinitely by proper crop
rotation and use of commercial fertilizers.

Irrigation

In previous Bureau of Reclamation studies of the South Platte
River basin, it was reported that a total of approximately 149,000 acres;
of land have been irrigated at one time or another in the "Nederland .
Area" (Water District No.6) and "St. Vrain Area" (Water District No.5.):.
These areas roughly approximate the boundaries of the St. Vrain Creek '
drainage basin. However, it is estimated that appro~tely 8,000 acres

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