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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />il <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I I I. WATER USE <br /> <br />A. Irrigated Lands <br /> <br />In order to provide a basis for evaluating benefits from regaining <br />full use of storage capacity at Santa Maria reservoir, it is necessary <br />to determine the benefits or value of stored water. The reservoir is <br />a source of supplemental irrigation \1ater diverted to both the Rio <br />Grande Canal and Monte Vista Canal and used for crop irrigation. The <br />primary method of irrigation within the service area, especially under <br />the Rio Grande Canal, is using the canal flow for groundwater <br />recharge, then pumping the wells for center pivot sprinkler appl ica- <br />tion to the crops. <br /> <br />To assess the potential benefit of regained storage to irrigation <br />water users, the land classification and present use must be used as a <br />basis for comparison. The following sections discuss general land <br />classification and characteristics of areas served by irrigation water <br />from Santa Maria Reservoir, as well as general crop patterns. <br />Information used was derived from data produced by the U.S. <br />Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service and the Colorado <br />Agricultural Service. <br /> <br />1. Land Classification <br /> <br />Stored water in the Santa Maria Reservoir serves irrigated land by <br /> <br />diversions to the Rio Grande and Monte Vista Canals. <br /> <br />II I - 1 <br />