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",,.,,,,q9') r~ I' '1/ . J \ J .~ \'y c,J .,.. ,-,. . . Agricultural Development existing distribution systems that is not irrigated. The capability of this land for irrigation development would have to be determined. There are two general areas of dry arable land in the unit, totalitig about 20,000 acres, that could be served irrigation water by constructing pump lifts. An area northeast of Boulder has approxi- mately5,000 acres and an area in the vicinity of Erie and Firestone has about 15,000 acres. Some of this land may be used for urban development in the near future. These areas are shown on exhibit 2. The soil textures of these lands range from loam to clay loam. The surface topography ranges from smooth to slightly undulating and the sld:pes are gentle. Surface and subsurface drainage are adequate for irrigation development. Income from agriculture has long been an important aspect to the economy of the St. Vrain Creek basin. However, since irrigation was omitted as a purpose in the alternative developments considered in these investigations, neither irrigation repayment nor benefits were developed for plan formulation studies. . AGRICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS In the Bureau's studies, U. S. Census of Agriculture records as well as secondary data for Boulder County were analyzed to determine characteristics :pertinent to the agricultural economy of the St. Vrain Creek basin. Since about 75 percent of the basin lies within Boulder County; the following information on that county is considered repre- sentative of the total basin. Number and Size of Farms Data on the number and average size of farms for census years 1949, 1954, and 1959 are summarized in table 4. . 24 C.' _' A; , ;~;