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00 <0 ~ ...~ their permitted number on the national forest. Most of the sheepmen depend on the desert of western Colorado and eastern Utah for their winter range. The irrigated lands and rangelands complement each other to a greater degree for cattle feed than they do for sheep feed. Comparison of Acreage Irrigated and Water Supply Water supply refers to the total annual water resources of the subbasin rather than the direct seasonal supply needed for irrigated land. Most of the water has not been a~ai1able for direct irrigation when neede~ because of lack of reservoir storage and consequent regulation of streamflow. However, for comparative purposes acreage irrigated was collated with water supply. Acreage irrigated in 1950-56 averaged 87 percent of the 1943-49 period (combine table 24 and figure 4). Water supply in 1950-56 averaged 82 percent of the 1943-49 period. There were greater relative annual fluctuations in water supply than in total acres irrigated, but a close relationship existed between them. Acreages of small grains, potatoes, beans, hay, sugar beets, fruit and irri- gated pasture were smaller in 1950-56 than in 1943-49. Acreage of corn re- mained about the same for the two periods (table 24). Direct Agricultural Benefits Anticipated from Water Resource Development In April 1957, the U. S. Department of Agriculture completed a report of "Reappraisal of Direct Agricultural Benefits and Project Impacts on the Paonia Project, Colorado." The study showed annual net direct benefits of $14.29 per acre on 14,380 acres, after discounting for a 3-year development period. Potential Water Requirements There are two major water development projects proposed or under construction within the North Fork subbasin. The Paonia project of the Bureau of Reclama- tion, comprising the Paonia Reservoir on Muddy Creek and improvements to diversion works and the Fire Mountain Canal will provide increased water supplies for Rogers and Redland Mesas and adjacent lands. Water storage for this project began in the fall of 1961 and the additional water is available for use during the 1962 irrigation season. Essentially a full supply of water will be available for project lands. The proposed Grand Mesa Project, under investigation by the Bureau of Reclam- ation,wou1d comprise the Electric Mountain Dam and feeder canals in the Muddy Creek Basin, the Grand Mesa Canal, the Gorsuch regulating reservoir, on Currant Creek, and supplementary works and canals. This project would provide stor- age for seasonal regulation of streamflows and the importation of water into the presently inadequately supplied araas on LeRoux, Currant, and Surface Creeks, and adjacent lands. The'additionaLwater.will provide a full supply for the - 67 -