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PROJECT SETTING Location The Palo Verde Irrigation District contains a privately developed irrigation project adjacent to the Colorado River at Blythe, California, approximately 100 miles north of Yuma, Arizona. Agri- cultural lands of the District extend about 30 miles along the Colorado River and are approximately 10 miles wide at the widest point, as shown on Map 1244-300-122. Approximately 92,000 acres are i rri gated. The climate of the area is typical of the deserts of the South- west wi th hot dry summers and moderate to cool wi nters. There is a year-round growing season. The average annual precipitation at Blythe is approximately 4 inches per year, most of which occurs as thunder showers during the summer. Irrigation and Drainage Water is diverted into the Palo Verde Irrigation District irriga- tion system from the Colorado River by the Palo Verde Diversion Dam, a concrete structure with radial gates to control the level of the river. Diverted water enters the Main Canal, an unlined canal with a design capacity of about 2,200 cubic feet per second (ft3/s). Water flows from the Main Canal into a system of canals and laterals. Most deliveries are by gravity, although some areas require pumping. Excess water in the canals is spilled directly back to the river or to drains. Less than 2 mil es of the 295 mi 1 es of canals and 1 atera 1 s are concrete lined. The canals are well maintained by the District. Side slopes are generally covered with a bermuda-type grass for eros i on prevention and weed control, although this evidently attracts muskrats and gophers whose burrowi ng cause 10 to 20 canal bank failures each year. Irrigated agriculture thrives in the District, and a variety of field crops and vegetables is grown. Alfalfa, cotton, and wheat are the major field crops. Major vegetable crops are lettuce, onions, and 6 00284/1