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..... -- _. ~ Soil Inventory C Source of Data Basic soil survey information was obtained from a standard soil survey completed by the Soil Conservation Servl ce in August 1957. Laboratory data for soil characterization on eight maj9r project soils was supplied by the Soil Cbnservation Servi ceo The Colorado Agri cul tural Experiment Station furnished soil moisture data on these same soils. Additional soil information was obtained in exchange of laboratory data with the Bureau of Reclamation. Project boundaries were transferred from the Bureau of Reclamation land classification maps to the Soil Conservation Service soil survey field sheets. The acreage within these boundaries was then tabulated by soil survey mapping uni ts. General Description of Soils Soils of this project are best grouped on the basis of orlgln. Areas east and northeast of Crawford and land in the northern part of the project include medium-textured soils, greater than 20 inches deep to gravel or cobble, which have developed from reworked glacial material. Moderately fine and fine-textured soils, greater than 20 inches deep which have developed in place from Mancos shale origin, are found north of Grandview Mesa on the north side of Allen Gulch, north of the town of Crawford along Cottonwood Creek and east of the Crawford Reservoir si te. West of Crawford on the gentle to moderately steep slopes along Grandview Mesa are light and medium-textured soils greater than 20 inches deep which have developed in place from interbedded sandstone and shale. Along the :::mith Fore. are medium-textured soils of varying depths to gravel and cobble which have developed from mixed general alluvium. Soil Problems General soil problems on this project are: Susceptibili ty to erosion, moderately deep soils with undulating topography, low fertility and a possible saline condition. Past erosion has been severe in the Cottonwood Creek area and on Grandview Mesa. However, the present hay and pasture use of soils in these sections and anti cipated future hay and small grain rotation, or pasture, should keep soil erosion to a minimum. The combination of moderately deep soils, moderate to moderately steep slopes and undulating topography presents a problem of surface irrigation. These conditions limit the degree of land leveling and anticipated irrigation efficiencies with the project. The difficulty of farming unstable soil under this same set of conditions has contributed to the severe past erosion on Grandview Mesa. - 8 -