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Problems I , i Proillel'lS Creek. The forest land of the watershed is open panderosa pine in rel- atively good hydrologic condition. Brush-covered areas rate in poor condition due to low ground cover density, particularly in shallow east. facing soil areas. Some parts of the grasslands <JJId meadows have lost their water table frorn channel degradation and the remaining upstream mea~s are susceptible to this in the future. Minor amounts of gully head-cutting are also evident. Floodwater causes some scour damage to dry and irrigated cropland. Recreation Sediment deposition damages crops, irrigated lands, irrigation distri- bution systems, fields and irrigation reservoirs. Average annual damages from sediment and erosion in the watershed are estimated at $24,580. Wildlife Habitat There is a need for additional recreational facilities. Several problems are apparent in providing these needs. Only one of the proposed struc. ture sites has favorable geology far water based recreation. There is little local interest among the sponsors and land CMlCrs for providing additional public recreation developnent. Available water is over~ appropriated and water rights necessary to provide recreation use would have to be purchased frern existing irrigation enterprises as there is no "free" water available. Sediment deposition is detrimental to wildlife and habitat in the water- shed. Sediment damage to nesting, food, 3nt1 cover in the Wellington State Wildlife Area is estimated at $1,400 annually. Lives and Health of People Floodwater depth over IllOst of the flood plain is relatively shallow so hazard to life is not great. The principal hazard to life is at stream crossings "'here bridge and culvert washouts may occur. Four lives "'ere lost at a washed out county road crossing in the 1967 flood. The town of Wellington has domestic water wells that are subject to flooding from the lO-year frequency storm. The town's sewer system is overloaded at times ..nen sections of the town are floo<.led causing back- up in tile system that eM be a hazard to the health of the COlfm.lllity. . i ; PRQBLEMS RELATING TO WAtER MA.NAGe-lENT DrainaRe and IrriRation There are only a few 10(:;11 areas with drainage problems in the watershed. Most of these are being solved on an individual basis. The practice of diverting flood flows for irrigation use and storage continues to cause excessive sediment deposition in the canals, reservoirs, ditches and on irrigated farm lands. There are a number of wells pumping ground water for irrigation and domestic and commercial needs along Boxelder Creek. '!his presents a cOllstroction problem as any structure proposed must be constructed with- out a foundation cutoff so that ground water flows under the dams are not interrupted, .13. -14-