WSP00916

• File Number: 8220.115.J
• Description: Florida Project
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1951
• Author: USDOI-BOR
• Title: Florida Project Colorado - A Supplement to the Colorado River Storage Project Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

BUREAU OF RECLAMA TIOM REPORT

irrigated and farmed as plort of units requiring supplemental _ter.
No presently undeveloped pasture class lands, however, are included
because of their relatively low value complored to their cost of
development. The 1,000 acres of Indian-owned lands are inc1u:led in the
project area since they are well suited to irrigation farming and could
readily be served from project facilities. Other arable lands covered
in the land classification survey would be excessively costly to develop
under present conditions.

The project lands lie on gently sloping terraces, benches, and
alluvial. fans in the long, narrow Florida River Valley and on the higher
Florida Mesa, a compl.ct area of gently rolling bench land. The natural
gradient over most of the land provides good external" drainage, and the
character of the soil and its depth to impervious shale permit good
internal drainage. Therefore, only a minor amount of artificial drain-
age 'tlCuld be necessary with project developmmt. The soils are rich in
mineral plant nutrients ani are generally low in organic matter and
nitrogen. They are fertile and predominantly free from excessive amounts
of soluble salts.

Allocations and Repayment

The project costs 'tlCuld be allocated to the various purposes of
the project as shown in the following tabulation. The costs allocated
to irrigation would be prorated to the Indian- and non-Indian-owned
lands in proportion to the amount of storage ani direct flow _ter they
'tlCuld receive from the project.

Construction
cost

Annual operation,
maintenance, and
replacement costs

Irrigation
. Indian
Non-Indian
Flood control
Fish and wildlife

$5,847,900
(556,700)
(5,29l,.cD0)
173,200
190.400
$6,21l,5oo

$20 ,640
(1,960)
(18,680)

500
$21,140

The allocations of construction costs made to fish and wildlife
and flood control represent the present value of estimated bmefits
from these purposes over a 100-year period with an interest rate of
2.5 percent. These allocations 'tlCuld be nonreimbursable in accordance
with present law. Special legislation would be required to make non-
reimbursable the share of operation, maintenance, and replacement costs
allocated to fish and wildlife conservation, and an appropriation of
funds to cover these costs would be required.

6