WSP00697

• File Number: 8200.750
• Description: San Juan River General
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 3/1/1960
• Author: Clifford H Jex
• Title: Report on Stream Depletion of the San Juan River Basin in Colorado - March 1960
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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f.Hl3241

Summary tables of results of arable land studies of the Bureau of

Reclamation conducted in the San Juan River Basin in 1933 show a total of

2,270 acres were irrigated at the time of study. A review of basin irriga-

ted land with aerial photographs indicates irrigation has been expanded to

a total of 6,120 acres. This is an increase of 170% in the twenty.six year

period, 1933-1959. The expansion was accomplished and financed by local

land owners in enlargement and extension of ditches, the clearing of land

under ditch and the construction of new ditches.

Table IX gives an estimate of present stream depletion.

TABLE IX

Average "nnu,,} st,re"m depletion by irrigation....
Average annual stream depletion by reservoir
evaporation. . . . , . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . , . . , . .

6,400 Acre Feet

100 II II

Total

6,500 Acre Feet

Potential Water Use

Irrigation use of the available water supply of this Division of the

San Juan River Basin is less advanced than other divisions of the Basin.

Field studies show the unused summer direct flow of the Navajo River and

the Blanco River provide excellent opportunities for attractive irrigation

expansion.

Engineering surveys were completed in the summer of 1959 for the

enlargement and extension of the Echlor Ditch for the irrigation of land

located in Spring Creek Valley south of the Navajo River near Chromo. The

owners of the land under the proposed enlargement and extended canal report

construction is planned for the year 1960. At such time as canal enlarge-

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