Laserfiche WebLink
054 <br />Economic and Demographic Data <br />The economy of the watershed and surrounding area is heavily dependent <br />on agriculture. Family farms are the predominate type. Within the <br />' <br />watershed boundaries there are about 95 rural landowners with <br />individual irrigated units 320 acres or less in size. There are about <br />71 landowners with units 321 acres or more in size. Cash crop <br />production and livestock operations are the major enterprises. <br />, <br />Irrigation water is supplied to the watershed by the Fort Lyon Canal <br />Company. The Fort Lyons' earliest water right decrees date prior to <br />1884 making it one of the earliest decreed ditches on the Arkansas <br />River. Between 100,000 and 400,000 acre feet of water are diverted for <br />91,000 acres by the Fort Lyon Canal Company each year with an average <br />of 232,000 acre feet. The total average annual water supply is about <br />400,000 acre feet. The 91,000 acres are supplied with irrigation water <br />by the Fort Lyon Canal Company diversions, reservoir storage, and by <br />approximately 40 private irrigation wells. <br />The population of the watershed and surrounding area consists of 74% <br />white, 24 Hispanic, and 2 1 1 other races. An estimated 50.4% of the <br />watershed is comprised of women. The per capita income of the area <br />(1990 census) is $9500 as compared to the state average of $14,800. <br />16.5% of the families are below the poverty level. 9.7 % Of the <br />population have a work disability. The average age is 34. The March <br />1994 unemployment rate is 6.2% . <br />The McClave subdivision of Bent County (population 816) and the Prowers <br />County town of Wiley (population 421) are located within the watershed. <br />Lamar (population 8343) is on the east edge and Las Animas (population <br />2362) is just west of the watershed. Transportation routes include <br />U.S. highways 287 running north and south and U.S. highway 50 running <br />east and west. There are also many secondary and county roads. <br />Wildlife I <br />Unpredictable precipitation is part of the climatic picture that <br />combines with other climate factors to create a harsh environment for <br />wildlife. The watershed rests in what is- considered a historical short <br />grass prairie. Many of the traditional wildlife species still exist in <br />the area. Suitable habitat for the following threatened or endangered <br />species is found in or near the watershed: bald eagle (Haliaeetus <br />leucocephalus) , whooping crane (Grus americans), eskimo curlew <br />(Numenius borealis) , least tern (Sterna antillarum) , piping plover <br />(Charadrius melodus) , and black- footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). <br />Several other species are proposed for listing as threatened or <br />endangered species including the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma <br />cornutum) , white -faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) , mountain plover <br />(Charadrius montanus) , ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) , southwestern <br />willow flycatcher (Empidonax railli extimus) , black tern (Chlidonias <br />niger) , swift fox (vulpes velox) , Arkansas darter (Estheostoma <br />cragini), speckled chub (Extrarius aestivalis tetranemus), and Colorado <br />green gentian (Frasera Coloradensis) . <br />11 1 <br />