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<br />t:: f. t' (~~ .:* l 1 <br /> <br />The crops being grown on the irrigated cropland are estimated in Table B: <br /> <br />Table B - Cropland Distribution <br /> <br />Crop. <br /> <br />Alfalfa <br />Grain Corn <br />Grain Sorghum <br />Small Grain <br />Truck Crops 1/ <br />Misc. other crops & fallow <br /> <br />% <br /> <br />Acres <br /> <br />Total <br /> <br />25 <br />36 <br />2 <br />12 <br />20 <br />...Q <br /> <br />100 <br /> <br />15,000 <br />21,500 <br />12,000 <br />7,150 <br />11 ,950 <br />2.900 <br /> <br />59,700 acres <br /> <br />1/ Includes melons, onions, tomatoes, and watermelon as well as asparagus, parsnip lettuce, <br />cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, and sweet corn. <br /> <br />No significant land cover and cropland distribution change is anticipated in the future. 98% of land in <br />the watershed is privately owned and 2% is State land. <br /> <br />Economic and DemoaraDhic Data <br /> <br />The economy of the watershed and surrounding area is heavily dependent on agriculture. Family <br />farms are the predominate type. Within the watershed boundaries there are about 505 operating <br />units averaging about 120 acres/unit. Cash crop production and livestock operations are the major <br />enterprises. Irrigation water is supplied to the watershed by the Highline, Otero, Catlin, Rocky Ford, <br />and Oxford Canal Companies. The Highline Canal is one of the earliest decreed ditches on the <br />Arkansas River. Reservoir storage and approximately 500 wells provide supplemental water. <br /> <br />Wildlife <br /> <br />Unpredictable precipitation is part of the climatic picture that combines with other climate factors to <br />create a harsh environment for wildlife. The watershed rests in what is considered a historical short <br />grass prairie.. Many of the traditional wildlife species still exist in the area. Suitable habitat for the <br />following threatened or endangered species may be found in or near the watershed: bald eagle <br />., (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), whooping crane (Grus Americana), least tern (Sterna Anitllarum), piping <br />plover (Charadrius Melodus), American peregrine falcon (Falcon Penegrinus), and black-footed ferret <br />(Mustela Nigripes). <br /> <br />Several other species in the watershed are candidates for listing as threatened or endangered <br />species including the mountain plover (Charadrius Montanus), swift fox (Vulpes Velox), arkansas <br />. darter (Estheostoma Cragini), Colorado butterfly plant (Guara neomexicana spp. cOloradensis) <br /> <br />5 <br />