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I I I I I I I I CHAPTER III: LAND A. LAND CLASSIFICATION The purpose of the proposed rehabilitation is to enable the Irrigation Company to continue to serve lands which are presently irrigated. Land Classification ~ se is therefore not required. Nevertheless, the Soil Survev of Weld County Area. Colorado and the Soil Survey of Larimer County Area Colorado published by USDA/SCS and Forest Service in cooperation with the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, was consulted and is summarized as follows for the land served by the Company. A.I. SOIL TYPE The Soil Conservation Service Soil Surveys for Larimer and Weld counties were reviewed for soil classification. The map units for the project service area and their respective capability classifications were studied. I The service area is dominated by sedimentary soils formed from alluvial and eolian deposits from shale and sandstone parent rock. Near hilltops and ridge lines the parent rock lies within 20-inches of the surface but in most areas the parent rock is deeper than 5-feet below the ground surface. The surface soils consists of a light brown sandy loam to a depth of 12 to 18 inches; followed by a yellowish brown to brown fine sandy to clay loam to a depth of 5-feet. The soil is well drained with medium surface runoff and low erosion that can be control with " no-till " farming if necessary. The effective rooting depth in most areas is 40 to 60 inches with the exception being areas with shallow depths to bedrock. Some variation exists within the service area in the low lying creek beds consisting of poorly drained, calcareous clay loam. I I I The area is better suited for irrigated crops although some non-irrigated farming is still carried out in this service area. Non-irrigated farming is restricted mostly to winter wheat, barley, and sorghum. Farming without irrigation also requires a season of fallow, usually summer, to accumulate moisture. Most non-irrigated land does not possess enough moisture, even after fallow, to fertilize. Wind erosion is also more severe on non-irrigated farmland. I I Near the low lying creek beds the soils possess more natural moisture and is the only area that does not need irrigation to increase yields, yet this area only accounts for approximately 5-percent of the total area and is restricted by frequent flooding. I With irrigation, the land is suitable for a variety of crops including corn, beans, alfalfa, potatoes, sugar beets, onions, and small grains. A suitable rotation for the best farming consists of 3 to 4 years of alfalfa, corn, corn for silage, sugar beets, small grain or beans. Irrigation systems should be matched with specific soil types in the area. For example, a Kim loam is suitable to furrow irrigation and a Thedalund loam is better suited to sprinkler irrigation for short periods to prevent over irrigation due to the shallow depths to parent rock. I I I Page III-1 WR&C Feasibility Study I