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<br />nrHj!24 <br /> <br />- 10 - <br /> <br />water supply from Vallecito Reservoir. Numerous land tracts <br />have been traded between Indians and non-Indians to consolidate <br />holdings. Lands previously non-irrigated have been brought <br />under irrigation using water formerly applied to project lands <br />abandoned due to salinity and seepage problems. The abandoned <br />areas are low bottom lands or areas below main diversion canals <br />subject to seepage. Records indicate that the diversion rates <br />are relatively high for the soil type and topography of the project <br />area, averaging 3.3 acre feet per acre with some individual rates <br />much higher. Seepage has resulted, especially in the lower por- <br />tions of the project. These p~oblems will increase in the future <br />unless changes in use patterns take place. While Vallecito <br />Reservoir was originally built to serve some 69,000 acres<6f <br />irrigated land, this much acreage may not now be available for <br />economical development. <br />The present irrigated acreage is about 32,400 and the stream <br />depletion from irrigation about 41,000 acre feet per year. <br />The Fuchs and Raber-Lohr Ditches divert an annual average of <br />about 4,000 acre feet to the Rio Grande Basin from the headwaters <br />of Los Pinos River. Depletions from domestic uses and reservoir <br />evaporation losses are 2,500 acre feet per year. <br />4. Florida River Basin. <br />Irrigated lands in the Florida River Basin have suffered <br />from chronic water shortages. The proposed Florida Project will, <br />in large measure, alleviate this problem. Existing direct flow <br />rights of presently irrigated land permit diversions larger than <br />necessary for crop production. <br /> <br />, ~ <br />