WSP11971

• File Number: 8149.100
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies - NRCS-Ft Lyon Canal Co Limestone Graveyard Creeks
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 6/2/1993
• Author: Gronning Engineering
• Title: Ft Lyon Canal Company Water Transfer Alternatives Study Phase 1 Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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estimated to be 838,OOQ af (1950-1987 data), Thus, due to diversion and use of return flows, water
is used about three times in the Lower Arkansas Valley before leaving the state.

Ground water levels in the valley rose after irrigation began as a result of canal seepage and deep
percolation. Irrigation wells have been drilled in suitable areas and supply about 25 percent of the
irrigated acres. These wells have been subject of litigation for decades.

The Arkansas River of southeastern Colorado is one of the most saline rivers in the United States,
with total dissolved solids (tds) levels exceeding 4,000 ppm between Lamar and the state line.
Water containing more than 2,000 ppm tds is generally considered unsuitable for irrigation, but
such water has been used successfully in the lower Arkansas Valley for many years, The salinity
problem is discussed by Miles (1977), Most of the salt comes from natural sources in the soil.
More information on water quality of the lower Arkansas River and the study area is presented in
Chapter 3.

Descriotion of Studv Area

The Ft. Lyon Canal is the largest irrigation company on the Arkansas River, stretching 120 miles
and providing irrigation water to approximately 92,600 acres. The study area covered by this
report includes Kiowa, Crowley, Otero, Bent, and Prowers counties of southeastern Colorado, and
is noted on Figure 1.1. The immediate vicinity of the Ft, Lyon system is roughly bounded by Lamar
on the east, La Junta on the south, Eads on the north, and Manzanola on the west, an area of
approximately 2,500 square miles, or 2,4 percent of the state of Colorado, The five counties
represent the economic region which is under direct influence of production and associated
spending distriblltion of the Ft. Lyon Canal Company system. Most relevant data is available by
county, The five county population was 43,183 in 1990. The area includes about 100 river miles
of the Arkansas River and the principal towns are Lamar, Las Animas, La Junta and Rocky Ford,
It is described in more detail in Chapter 4.

Concurrent Studies

Three other studies of this area are known to be pending or underway. The U, S. Geological
Survey, Pueblo Subdistrict (USGS) has conducted extensive research on the Arkansas River of
Colorado for many years and is now completing a hydrologic study of the Ft. Lyon System, This
report contains some preliminary data from this USGS study, The Colorado Division of Wildlife
(CDOW), in cooperation with the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and the Lower
Arkansas River Commission (LARC), is completing a(l analysis of water supply alternatives for a
proposed Great Plains Reservoirs State Park near Lamar, A group of representatives of six
southeastern Colorado counties, known as Task Force 2, is supporting a study of water resource
management alternatives for the region. The study team has made every effort to include
appropriate infotmation from these studies as it becomes available and to share information with
concurrent studies, as directed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB).