PROJ00005

• Contract/PO #: C153402
• Contractor Name: Fort Lyon Canal Company
• Water District: 0
• County: Bent
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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I. GENERAL INFORMATION

This report presents the results of a feasibility investigation for a project ta
rehabilitate and improve portions of the water diversion, delivery, distribution, ond
storage systems owned and operated by the Fort Lyon Canal Company. The purposes of
the project are to improve the water distribution within the system and to make the use
of the exist ing water supply more efficient through better water conservation and
management with a corresponding increase in the amount of water available for
consumptive irrigation use. No new land is expected to be irrigated as the result of this
project. This investigation was prepared in cooperation with the Colorado Water
Conservation Boord under its construction fund.

1.1 Project Area

The area involved in the investigation is located in the Arkansas Valley in
southeastern Colorado (see Figures I and 2). It consists generally of about 300,000 acres,
bounded on the north by the Fort Lyon Canal or the Fort Lyon Storage Canal, on the
south by the Arkansas River, on the west by the community of Manzanola, and on the
east by Lamar. Three counties--Otero, Bent, and Prowers--are involved. The major
population centers are La Junta, Las Animas, and Lamor. Elevations range from about
4,200 feet obove mean sea level in the west to about 3,700 feet above mean sea level in
the east.

1.2 Climate

The climate of the project area is characterized by low and variable precipitation,
abundant sunshine, a wide range of temperatures, and considerable wind. The weather
pattern is commonly governed by dry air from the southwest. In the winter, it is
influenced by brief invasions of cold air from the north, which cause dramatic drops in
temperature. It also is sometimes influenced by moist air from the Gulf of Mexico,
which bring significant amounts of precipitation.

The winters are fairly mild with the period of December through February normally
being the coldest and driest of the year. At Las Animas in January, for example, the
overage maximum and minimum temperatures are about 480 F and 130 F, respectively,
for an average mean of about 300 F. Occasional blizzards and cold spells move into the
area from the north, lasting three to five days. Periods of relatively high winds often
occur beginning late in February. By summer, the high winds usually have subsided.
Intrusions of moist air from the Gulf of Mexico increase the humidity and shower