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. . 5 DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT An irrigation systems improvement plan is proposed for the Price-San Rafael River Unit of the Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program. In the proposal under consideration the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamationl,the Department of Agriculture (Soil Conservation Service and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service), and landowners would voluntarily cooperate in completing project work. The irrigation systems improvement plan under consideration consists of two parts: (1) developing a pressurized sprinkler irrigation system and, (2) improving winter water practices by providing culinary water at subsidized rates. lining stock ponds, making improvements to the existing Cottonwood Creek livestock watering systems, and constructing a pipeline to deliver raw water to the Orangeville and Castledale water treatment plants. The project area includes approximately 65,650 acres of land capable of being irrigated; however, the project proposes to treat only 36,050 acres under sprinkler or surface irrigation. The plan would install a total of 370 miles of pipeline for the sprinkler system, of which 83 miles of 8 to 33-inch pipe would be installed by Reclamation off-farm and 287 miles of 4 to 15-inch pipe would be installed on- farm by the Soil Conservation Service. Approximately 110 miles of off-farm laterals and 6.8 miles of the Clipper Ditch would be abandoned as a result of the pressurized system. Implementation of the sprinkler irrigation plan would be on a voluntary, farm- by-farm basis since each farmer would be required to provide cost sharing for their own on-farm improvements. A majority of farmers served by a given off- farm lateral would need to participate before off-farm construction of a pressurized (buried) pipeline would begin. Improved Winter Livestock Water Systems The preferred plan would involve improving winter livestock water systems within the service areas of Carbon Canal Company and the Huntington-Cleveland Irrigation Company. These two entities must presently operate their canals during the wintertime to supply water to shareholders needing it for their livestock to drink. Implementation of the winter water system improvements would allow winter operation of the associated canals to be discontinued, resulting in the elimination of winter seepage losses from them. Stockpond Lining This plan would involve improving 70 and 13 stockwater ponds in the Price and San Rafael River Basins, respectively. These ponds are located outside culinary service areas. Each pond would be enlarged to an average capacity of '1.' ,.. \~ - '".J"",,,,]