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<br />Prob I ems <br /> <br />Flood plain scour damages on 273 acres are concurrent with floodflows, <br />particularly on the irrigated cropland while in row crop rotation and to <br />the irrigation systems. Estimated average annual damage from flood <br />plain scour is $4,750 (Table 5). This has an effect on the quality and <br />quantity of agricultural crops damaged and reduces fertil ity of agricul- <br />tural lands. <br /> <br />Sediment Damage <br /> <br />Principal source of sediment is sheet and rill erosion. Sediment deposi- <br />tion occurs on 377 acres of flood plain lands n~cessitating ,cleaning of <br />sections of canals and ditches to maintain operating efficiency after <br />each floodflow and the relevel ing of affected cropland. <br /> <br />Water quality and sediment yield to the river system downstream is not a <br />significant problem because stream channels have been largely eliminated <br />by agricultural measures, and most of the sediment is deposited near the <br />source. <br /> <br />Average annual sediment damage is estimated at $6,620 for the watershed <br />(Table 5). <br /> <br />Drainage <br /> <br />Drainage is not a maJor problem in this watershed. A few small scattered <br />areas of cropland have been drained on an individual basis. The saltgrass <br />meadows in the flood plain area near the South Platte River are affected <br />by a high water table because of the flat grade of the South Platte <br />River. Drainage is not feasible without supplemental channel work in the <br />. South Platte River. Landowners have upgraded vegetative cover and <br />operate it under proper grazing use. <br /> <br />Irrigation <br /> <br />Most of the irrigation water used in this watershed is supplied by <br />direct diversion and by water storage through the Julesburg Irrigation, <br />District system. The Julesburg Reservoir, an,off~stream site, has lost <br />considerable capacity through sedimentation by long term diversion of <br />flood flows from the South Platte River. The Julesburg Irrigation <br />District is interested in repair and enlargement of its embankments to <br />insure stability of the structures and a larger capacity for storing <br />over 25,000 acre-feet for regular and late season water. The Highline <br />Canal, Settlers and Petersen Ditches have some problems of seepage <br />losses. To the extent of their capacities, they also intercept and <br />carry floodwater and sediment from the area above each of the canals. <br />Any excess water will cause damages by overflow to the canals, struc- <br />tures, crops, lands and improvements' below. <br /> <br />23 <br />