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<br />~ <br />r- <br />0;:0 <br />..ooj <br /> <br />The high mountain meadow area is predominantly livestock industry, which is <br />supported by growing legume and grass mixture for hay or pasture and small <br />grain. Alfalfa hay is usually grown where climate and soils are suitable. <br />The problems of the high mountain meadow areas are generally associated <br />with poor seasonal distribution of irrigation water, gravelly soils and <br />short-growing seasons. The result is the production of hay over an extensive <br />area with low yields. This problem can be corrected through storage of irri- <br />gation water supplies, irrigation water management, fertilizer application, <br />improvement of hay composition, and timing of harvesting operations to get <br />high yields of good quality forage. <br /> <br />The general farming area is the fringe area of the Uncompahgre Valley. It is <br />above the Uncompahgre Reclamation Project area, except for East Mesa, and <br />below the high mountain area. The general farming areas outside of the <br />Uncompahgre Reclamation Project are usually short of irrigation water. Other <br />factors, such as low degree of land development, low fertility, and inadequate <br />irrigation systems, which usually accompany short irrigation water supply, are <br />also in evidence. Some of the general farming area has ample irrigation <br />water but soil conditions limit management choices and reduce crop yields. <br /> <br />Most of the cash crops in the subbasin are raised with Uncompahgre Reclamation <br />Project water on the mesa and valleys west of the Uncompahgre River. The <br />area has some operators that are general-type farmers by choice. Principal <br />crops in the area are alfalfa.for hay, sugar beets, onions, malting barley, <br />corn for grain or silage, dry beans, small grain and irrigated pasture. <br />Progressive principles of irrigation and land management are in evidence, but <br />much improvement is desirable. <br /> <br />The livestock industry, with grazing permits on national forest and national <br />land reserve lands, predominates within the Uncompahgre subbasin. Private <br />range is located in the desert shrub and pinyon-juniper zones. Cover and <br />forage production varies from poor to fair. Generally, these lands are used <br />for holding areas previous and subsequent to grazing on Federal land. Crop <br />aftermath and irrigated pastures are utilized in the farming areas. <br /> <br />The lands above the agricultural area are used for grazing, timber production, <br />wildlife habitat, recreation, and water production. Under the multiple use <br />management of the national forests, none of these uses is managed to the <br />detriment of another. The higher subbasin lands support a large summer <br />grazing industry which is primarily cattle on the Uncompahgre plateau and <br />sheep in the Ouray area. <br /> <br />Seventy-six thousand acres of the national forest land is considered to be <br />producing commercial, operable timber stands. National land reserve and pri- <br />vate lands also grow some timber, but in lesser amounts. The average annual <br />cut for .the last 10 years has exceeded 4 million board-feet a year. This is <br />only a small percentage of that available under sustained yield management. <br />The timber, mostly ponderosa pine to date, is sold entirely to local operators. <br />The major processing point is in Montrose. <br /> <br />In addition, 35,000 acres of brush-covered forest lands need to be planted to <br />commercial tree species, mostly ponderosa pine. <br /> <br />- 72 - <br />