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<br />l'ine lIiver l'roject
<br />
<br />Pinos) caused an acute shortage of water for lands of
<br />the white farmers in the region, since in many years
<br />the natural flow of the river during irrigation seasons
<br />was insufficient to meet the irrigation requirements of
<br />the Indians.
<br />The possibilities of storing flood and snowmelt wa'
<br />tel'S for irrigation led to the Pine River investigation.
<br />which was included among a nnmber of studies con,
<br />ducted by the Bureau of Reclamation during 1924 and
<br />1925. As a result of a report on these surveys, the
<br />Secretary of the Interior appointed a committee to con.
<br />duct irrigation investigations. The committee report,
<br />"Irrigation on Indian Reservations," was submitted to
<br />the Secretary in June 1928. Because of the importance
<br />of southern Ute Indian lands in irrigation investiga.
<br />tions, the Office of Indian Affairs handled investiga,
<br />tions until 1934, when the Pine River project was
<br />t.urned over to the Bureau of Reclamation for planning
<br />and construction. Funds were made available for
<br />commencement of construction of the project in the
<br />Interior Department appropriat.ion act of 1937.
<br />Distribution facilities were not included as a part
<br />of the original project.
<br />
<br />Authorization
<br />
<br />The Pine River project was approved for construc'
<br />tion by the President., .J une 17, 1937, under the pro.
<br />visions of section 4 of the act of June 25,1910 (36 Stat.
<br />835), subsection R, section 4 of the act of December 5,
<br />1924 (43 Stat. 701).
<br />An extension of the Pine River project. was author.
<br />ized by Public Law 485. 84th Congress, April 11, 1956,
<br />as a participating project of the Colorado River Stor'
<br />age project..
<br />
<br />Construction
<br />
<br />Const.ruction of Vallecito Dam commenced May 14,
<br />1938, and was completed in early 1941.
<br />Construction of the "Extension Project" has been de.
<br />ferred indefinitely.
<br />
<br />Operating Agency
<br />
<br />The features constructed by the United States are
<br />being operated by the Bureau of Reclamation with
<br />funds advanced by the water users, of which one,sixth
<br />is furnished by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
<br />
<br />BENEFITS
<br />
<br />Irrigation
<br />
<br />From the beginning of irrigation along the Pine
<br />River in 1877, there had been a shortage of water for
<br />complete crop mat.urity until the Vallecito Dam was
<br />construct ed in 1942. This storage facility has made
<br />possible an increase in potential irrigation from less
<br />than 17,000 acres to 50,000 acres with the added assur.
<br />ance of crop maturity. Improved pasture, alfalfa,
<br />wheat, oats, and barley are the principal crops grown
<br />on project lands.
<br />
<br />Fload Control
<br />
<br />Vallecito Dam prevents the flooding of crops and
<br />farmland along the river during spring runoff by stor.
<br />ing the floodwater for controlled releases to benefit
<br />irrigation.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Recreation
<br />
<br />In a beautiful setting in San Juan National Forest,
<br />the Vallecito Reservoir area has facilities for camping,
<br />picnicking, swimming, boating, and good fishing for
<br />brown, rainbow, and brook trout. Several resorts are
<br />operating on private lands adjoining the reservoir area.
<br />
<br />PROJECT DATA
<br />
<br />Land Areas 119581
<br />
<br />Irtigable area (acres): Supplemental irrigation service:
<br />Pine River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 41, 141
<br />Pine River Indian Irrigation service . . . . . .. 9, 703
<br />Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 50,844
<br />Number of irrigated farms: 388 +65 on Indian Irrigation.
<br />
<br />Area Irrigated and Crop Value
<br />
<br />Year Area irrigated Crop value
<br /> (acres)
<br /> Pine River
<br />1948'..''.''''''.'''' 32, 248 $751, 373
<br />1949""."",.",."",.."", 32, 194 785, 303
<br />1950..""_."".",.""",.,, 32, 249 789, 847
<br />1951",_",.."""",.,."".. 33, 927 1, 143, 805
<br />]952""",."".,.",._",.... 32. 620 1, 032, 058
<br />]953."..",."",."".."",. 34, ]06 820, 611
<br />1954.."".",.",.,.""...", 32, 810 970, 722
<br />1955"".""_""..,..."".,, 34, 878 1, 294, 092
<br />1956..""",."".,.",.."". 37, 057 2,016,024
<br />1957,.,_",.",."".,_",..", 35, 6.07 1,264,878
<br />]958.""".,.""."".""", 34, 486 1, 218, 269
<br /> Pine River Indian Irrigation
<br />195]",._"..",.""..""",. 9, 273 $333, 757
<br />1952.",..",..""."..""." 9, 321 240, 881
<br />1953,."""",."".""""., 9, 407 223, 424
<br />1954.",.",.""."""",.", 8, 989 241, 983
<br />1955."",.",."",.",.""" 9, 797 349, 6]5
<br />]956."."""".",.,.",_"" 9, 666 349, 977
<br />]957,.""_",."""",.".,,, 9, 718 334, 996
<br />1958."..""",.."."",."" 9, 6]3 348, 019
<br />
<br />:e
<br />
<br />Facilities in Operation (June 30, 1958)
<br />
<br />btorage dams . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<br />Reservoir capacity (acre-feet, active)
<br />Diversion dams . .
<br />Canals (miles) . .
<br />Laterals (miles) . .
<br />Drains (miles) . .
<br />
<br />]
<br />126, 300
<br />5
<br />196
<br />148
<br />]9
<br />
<br />Climatic Conditions
<br />Annual precipitation (inches)
<br />Temperature:
<br />Maximum . . . . . . .
<br />Minimum . . . . . . . .
<br />Mean. . . . . . . . . . . . .
<br />Growing season (days) . . . . . .
<br />Elevation of irrigable area (feet) . . . . .
<br />
<br />16\
<br />"\
<br />101' .'.
<br />_380 rJ
<br />46'
<br />110
<br />6500
<br />
<br />2
<br />
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