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<br />In counties neighboring the project area such as Montezuma <br />County, farmers have enrolled 9,624 acres into the program <br />and want to add 17,123 acres. In another neighboring county, <br />Dolores, 20,301 acres are currently enrolled with plans to <br />add another 5,824 acres. <br /> <br />within the project area an increasing number of farmers <br />are finding it advantageous to explore different avenues of <br />employment. The high cost of farming and its low returns, <br />oversupplied markets, and relative low economic benefits <br />vis-a-vis other sectors of the economy have all contributed <br />to farmers leaving the industry. Indeed, project documents <br />reveal that 1 of 16 families received direct income from <br />farming in the project area and that the total value of <br />production on land to receive project water was $3.2 million <br />in 1978. with respect to Indian farming, there were 17 <br />fUll-time farms and ranches and 24 part-time operations <br />on the Southern Ute Reservation in 1975. In light of the <br />relatively light agricultural activity, the Project's <br />emphasis on irrigation seems disproportionatley large. <br /> <br />The base of operations on the Ute Mountain ute Reservation <br />is a bit different. The 51 Tribe-subsidized cattle <br />operations represented the main agricultural activity. <br />Insufficient irrigation water has hindered agricultural <br />development. <br /> <br />That the land has not been put to agricultural use is not <br />entirely surprising. Given the high altitude and the short <br />growing seasons, much of the land will not meet prime or <br />unique farmland status, according to agricultural officials. <br />Further, these agricultural lands have in the past been <br />sprayed with the parathion insecticide and the 2-4-D <br />herbicide, which have been linked to an increase in cancer <br />in farmers. The EIS reports that, "the use of chemicals <br />that does occur (in the project area) are consistent with <br />a growing trend nationally to use pesticides that are more <br />toxic. The herbicides are used along irrigation ditche., <br />drains and canals for weed control. Since return flow. from <br />project lands receiving irrigation water from the project <br />are in some instances going back into project reservoirs <br />further information is needed to determine the likely <br />effects on reservoir water quality and fish and wildlife. <br /> <br />MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WATER SUPPLY <br /> <br />Project Goals and Requests <br /> <br />The climate of the project area is characteristic of the <br />southwest-- low precipitation and humidity and abundant <br />sunshine. Precipitation is generally influenced by the <br />prevailing southwesterly winds and.levation differences. <br /> <br />15 <br />