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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1901 <br /> <br />together constructively to fine-tune the Trinidad Project operations and <br />amend the Operating Principles to achieve the optimum beneficial use of the <br />avai lable water for irrigation within the project area, consistent with the <br />protection of downstream non-project rights. The computer model developed <br />for this review is an excellent tool for the evaluation of various alter- <br />natives. <br /> <br />D. Irrigated Acreage <br /> <br />1. Total Annual Irrigated Acreage <br /> <br />The Bureau completed a detailed land classification of the project area in 1959. <br />Results of this study as presented in the Report identified 19,717 acres of pro- <br />ject lands as irrigable. The project operating priniciples limit the irrigated <br />acreage to a maximum of 19,717 acres. For comparative purposes an attempt was <br />made to determine actual project acreage irrigated by year for the review <br />period. <br /> <br />Acreage figures contained in the Bureau's Annual Production Reports and the CAS <br />(Colorado Agricultural Statistics) reports were analyzed. As shown in Table 12, <br />there are considerable differences in reported acreage figures between the two <br />reports. The personne 1 pub 1 i sh i ng the CAS report stated that the fi gures are <br />deri ved by random samp 1 i ngs and projected over the ent ire county. li kewi se, <br />the Bureau Annual Product ion Report fi gures are esti mated based on i ncomp 1 ete <br />i ndi vi dua 1 reports and are projected over the Proj ect. Neither .report provi des <br />sufficient information to determine if more than 19,717 acres has been irrigated <br />in anyone year. <br /> <br />Since none of the existing reports provided sufficient information, the Bureau <br />performed a field survey of the project irrigated lands during the summer of <br />1985. Using maps of the Oxley Ranch and high altitude color infrared photo- <br />graphs of the rest of the project, Bureau personnel made an on site identifi- <br />cation of lands irrigated in 1985 and of lands which had been irrigated in prior <br />years. The Bureau concluded that 18,386 acres were irrigated in 1985. <br />The Bureau further concluded that no more than 18,386 acres had been irrigated <br />during the 1979-1984 review period~ <br /> <br />Since the limitation on the amount of lands irrigated is a critical element in <br />the protect i on of the downstream water users, veri fi cat i on and enforcement of <br />this provis.ion is paramount. In a letter to the Bureau from M.E. MacDougall <br />(attorney for the District) of Apri 1 6, 1987, the District outlined their pro- <br />posed method to restrict project acreage to 19,717 acres. The letter states "in <br />regard to verification, the District has acreage allotments for each participant, <br />and there are ASCS studies, aerial photos, and occasional field studies for one <br />reason or another, as well as the common knowledge within the community, and <br />within the Board, management, and participants, of the yearly situation of the <br />various farms. We believe the acreage can thus be verified internally." A <br />1 etter dated March 25, 1988 also from M. E. MacDougall cites the intent of the <br />District to revise their rules and regulations to allow for better control of <br />the irrigable acreage within the District. A letter dated November 11, 1988 <br />from M. E. MacDougall contains an acreage verification proposal that would use <br />aerial photos of the project area at regular intervals. By copy of this letter, <br />Mr. MacDougall asks for written acceptance of his proposal by Kansas and <br />Colorado. <br /> <br />38 <br /> <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />11 <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />II <br />. <br />. <br />II <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />II <br />II. <br />