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<br />FRYING PAN-ARKANSAS PROJECT, COLORADO
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<br />amounting to $3,606,000 Mnually; flood control benefits amounting
<br />to $720,000 annuaUy, fish and wildlife benefits amounting to $172,000
<br />annually, recreation benefits umounting to $80,000 annually, and
<br />scdiment control benefits Il.nlountmg to $141,000 annuaUy.
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<br />AnRICUJ~TURAL ASPECTS OF I~ROJECT
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<br />The Arktinsfis Valley is over 300 miles in length from Leudville
<br />at. I,hc uppcr west end to the Kansas-Colorado line, and the lifeblood
<br />of this valley is the Arkansas Rivcr which riscs high in the Rocky
<br />Mountains. Thcre are 356,000 irrigated acrcs in the Arkansas Vallcy
<br />surrounded by extensive winter dryland runge. The agricultural
<br />economy of the entire valley is lHl~ed primarily on livestock-meat
<br />production. This indust,ry ranges from breeding herds and flocks to
<br />commercial feeding operntions. The farmers in the upper basin
<br />raise fceder stock primarily while farmers downstream raise breeding
<br />anim.ls and carryon extensive feedingopcrations. The va1l8Y fattens
<br />approximately 80,000 head of cattle and 140,000 lambs each year.
<br />In addition, there are some 850,000 turkeys and chickens produced
<br />and dairy operations to till around 14,500 cows. Consequent.!y, a
<br />major part of the irrigated area in the valley is used for supporting
<br />these livestock operntiolls. In ]95(1, the acreage devoted to feed erops
<br />was 79 percent of the total irrigHted aren. This acreage includes
<br />sugarbeets from which the tops aud pulp are used for feed. The other
<br />21 percent was distributed a.mong such crops as vegetables, fruits.
<br />berries, melons, nnd seed crops. -
<br />About, 280,000 of the 356,000 ilTigated aeres in the yalley will be
<br />furnished supplemental water from (,he Fryingpan-AI'kHlls~s project.
<br />As already indicated hercin, there will be no new land brought under
<br />irrigation. Tlw supplement.al wo.te.r supply of six-t.enths of an acre-
<br />foot per acre for the 280,000 acres represents two irrigations of about
<br />three and one-haH inches each. While tbis amount of water will
<br />not permit a fully adequate "'ater supply, it does represent the differ-
<br />ence between slIccessful crop operations and failure. In 1959,22..000
<br />acres in the valley failed, primarily due, to shortnges of water.
<br />This slIpplemental water supply will stabilize the agricultural
<br />economy of the vaHcy nnd will provide the assurUllce needed to cnuhle
<br />farmers to expund the production of specialty erops for whieh che
<br />valley is adapted, sueh us melons, fruits, vegetables, berries, and seed
<br />crops. In the pust, the ullfo"orabJe water supply outlook has dis-
<br />eOlll'ltged the fl1l'll",rs in the Arkans"s Valley from plalltillg these high-
<br />value crops because of the expense and risk involved.
<br />lnvnriably, the question comes up us to the reln,tiollship of crops.
<br />grown on reclamation projects to the existing agriculturttl surplus
<br />problem. In the ellse of the Fryingpltll-Arkansas project it appe"rs
<br />that f,hcre will be no udvel'se effect ~md t.hllt t.horc nUlY be a beneficial
<br />effect. First of DII, f1.S point,ed out mtl'liel', no new lanrl is Ll'ougllt into
<br />production. See-ond. the firm supplementill \Vater supply to t.he lnnds
<br />nJrendy irrigat.cd will permit morc fiexibilit..Y in t.he farming opcmt.ions.
<br />The irrigation farmer can shift funning prnct.iccs to meet.- market
<br />demalllls.Somechangesinlandusearee.tpcd.ed.withanincrcn.se
<br />in .the acreage devoted to high-vu.lue specialty crops. Sug:trbeet.s
<br />\\-'luch depend on n firm wn.ter supply will continue to be an important
<br />crop. lndi\'idual farm enterprises based 011 farm feeding of li"estock
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