WSP00697 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

, t I I I I 003258 The Bureau of Reclamation study of arable land of the Colorado River Basin in 1933 shows a total of 6,440 acres as then irrigated under the Animas River in Colorado and 13,200 acreS as irrigated under the LaPlata River in Colorado. This is a total of 19,640 acres. Aerial photographs show the irrigated land using Animas River water has been expanded to 7,020 acres. The irrigated land under the LaPlata River has increased to 20,100 acres. The total area presently irrigated ~,I ~I I I 1 'I , t , I I. , I I t is 27,120 acres, or an increase of 38% in the twenty-six-year period, 1933- 1959. Land under the Animas River receives a full irrigation supply of water in all years. The LaPlata River lands receive only a short supply with crops limited to those requiring a minimum of irrigation water. Present stream depletion is estimated in Table XX. TABLE XX Average annual stream depletion for irrigation........ Average annual stream depletion by reservoir evaporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average annual stream depletion for municipal and industrial use.,.......".....,.....,..,..... 30,300 Acre Feet 2,300 " " 200 " " Total 32,800 Acre Feet Potential Use The land of Red Hesa in the drainage basin of the LaPlata River has long been recognized as one of the larger areas of choice arable land of the entire Colorado River Basin. Adequate water for the irrigation of this land runs unused in the Animas River and discharges into the San Juan in New Mexico. Facilities for the irrigation of the land has been under study at -32- -1 ~ ~' '"