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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I LAND There is approximately 25,000 acres of land presently irrigated by the Highland Lateral and Farmers Irrigation Ditch. The majority of this land is irrigated by gravity flow, but there are locations along the ditch where pump stations lift water from the ditch to higher fields or sprinkler systems, All but a small portion of the land along the ditch is used for agriculture. The only develop- ment that lies along the ditch is in the Northwest quarter of Section 3, Town- ship 3 North, Range 68, and is in no danger of being threatened from water seepage from the ditch or overtopping of embankments should a major storm occur. The irrigated lands have been classified by the Soil Conservation Service, The results have not yet been published, but are expected in the near future, The information is available from the Soil Conservation Service District Office in Greeley, Colorado, From their classifications, the soils along the ditch are made up of seven (7) groups. These are: l. Wiley Colby complex, 1 to 3 percent slope 2. Wiley Colby complex, 3 to 5 percent slope 3, Nunn Clay loam, 1 to 3 percent slope 4. Colby loam, 3 to 9 percent slope 5. Colby loam, 3 to 5 percent slope 6, Weld loam, 1 to 3 percent slope 7. Otero Sandy loam, 5 to 9 percent slope These classifications are helpful but do not provide sufficient information to design the structural portions of the ditch rehabilitation. Therefore, we re~ commend a complete soil survey along the ditch be prepared so that a proper design can be produced. To properly build either a concrete lined ditch or a piped system, the Design Engineer must know what type of soils he will be building on so that a proper foundation can be laid. A proper foundation is critical to the reliability and useful life of any structure. A foundation design should be done by experienced engineers in the soils field. 5