PUB00127

• Year: 1982
• Title: Colorado's Multi-Year Plan
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Author: Soil Conservation Service
• Description: Plan identifying goals and objectives of the Soil Conservation Service in Colorado
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

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SOIL EROSION ON CROPLAND

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PROBLEM

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Practically all of the 10,764,000 ~cres
cropland in Colorado is subject to erosion.
exceeds allowable soil loss tolerances on 25
lands. This erosion threatens the long-term
Colorado.

of nonirrigated and irrigated
The average annual erosion rate
percent of the state's crop-
productive capability of

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Social implications of water and wind erosion include:

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degradation of the environment.

physical and mechanical damage to the public and property.

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decreasing property values.

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eventual disappearance of schools, businesses, and perhaps
even entire communities.

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Erosion of Colorado's cropland also has significant economic impacts,
such as:

decrease in productive capacity of the soil.

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increase in cost of production.

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loss of a natural resource with local, state and national
importance.

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expense to the public to remove silt from reservoirs,
stream channels and roadside ditches.

long term increase in cost of food to consumer as shortages
occur.

Erosion by Water

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While water erosion is widespread throughout the state, there are some
areas that are having significantly higher erosion rates than others.
Approximately 240,000 acres of cropland in northwest Colorado, and 70,000
acres in the Cortez Dove Creek area are eroding at excessive rates.

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Soil losses in Colorado amount to over 28,726,000 tons annually. The
major soil losses from water erosion can be attributed to farming:

too steep slopes

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marginal soils

without using crop residue management

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without using irrigation water management

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using outdated and worn out irrigation structures

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