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~ co ~ - c BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REPORT The small town of La Barge, with a population of about 100, is the only community in the project area. It lies in the southern portion of the" area about 50 miles northeast of Kemmerer, wYo., by United States Highway No. lS9. Highway No. lS9, an oiled road ohich is one of the main routes to Yellowstone National Park, passes lengthwise through the project area. Outlets to eastern, northwestern, and western United States are provided at Kemmerer by United States Highway 30-N and by the Oregon Shortline Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. A rather severe climate prevails in the La Barge project area with cool summers and cold winters. The growing season for frost-resistant crops averages about 111 days. Frosts, however, have been recorded in every month of the year. The mean annual temperature is about 400 F. With extremes ranging from 970 F. to -470 F. Precipitation averages S.91 inches annually with about 4.52 inches falling from May to September. Because of the light precipitation irrigation is necessary for successful crop production. Approximately 46 percent of the irrigable project land or 3,660 acres are public domain. The State of Wyoming owns about 13 percent or 1,010 acres and private interests own 41 percent or 3,300 acres. The private landholders have expressed a desire for irrigation development. Coal mining, oil production, and livestock raising are the major industries in Lincoln and Sublette Counties. Coal production has declined materially in recent years, however, because of advances made by competitive fuels. Sheep and cattle raising is being restricted to avoid overuse of the range. These curtailments threaten the stability of the area's economy. The La Barge project is urgently needed to supplement the basin'S income and to provide settlement opportunities. It would offset in part the effect of the declining trend in industries Which have heretofore supported the area. Plan of Development The La Barge project would make a direct flow diversion from the Green River to provide irrigation for the irrigable area of 7,970 acres. Only about 300 acres of the land receive any irrigation water at the present time. Their meager supply, Which comes from South Piney Creek, would likely be used on other land outside the project area if the La Barge project is constructed. Water for domestic and stock watering use in the project area would be taken from project canals and shallow wells. Navigation, industrial water supplies, flood and silt control, recreation, and stream pollution abatement would not be affected. Fish and wildlife values would be decreased slightly. No Indian lands are located in the project area. No opportunity is presented for the production of hydro- electric power in connection with the project. ')