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lJ? en U? .-1 CHAPTER II BASES FOR ANALYSES 6,000 acre-feet by about year 2000. There is some indication that such a growth will take place. Over the 1950-70 period, however, Gunnison City experienced an average annual growth rate of about 3ft percent. Although the growth, as reflected by electrical tap connections and observations, has been much more rapid than the 3ft percent during the past 5 years, the 3ft percent is considered a realistic average growth estimate for the next 30 years. This rate supports a need for only about 4,000 acre-feet of water by the year 2000. This amount is also supported by an estimate of need made by one of the engineering firms which conducted a study for the city. A request by the municipal water to be primary basis for the East River Unit plan. and is in progress in Crested Butte Land Company for 2,000 acre-feet of supplied to the area south of Crested Butte is the inclusion of this amount of water service in the Residential building has recently been initiated the area. Land Classification Lands in the project area were classified as to their relative suit- ability for irrigated meadow production by a detailed land classification survey made by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1965. The lands were segregated into classes 2M and 3M. Class 2M lands are best suited for meadow produc- tion as quality grass can be grown on these lands without reservation. Class 3M lands are marginal in suitability and require additional manage- ment to obtain production comparable to that on class 2M. A total of 208,170 acres of land was covered by the survey, of which 59,560 acres were determined to be arable and suitable for irrigation. The arable lands include 40,150 acres that are presently irrigated and 19,410 acres that are nonirrigated. The 148,610 acres designated as non- arable include 6,720 acres of class 6w land that are presently irrigated and have a water right, 2,470 acres of measured rights-of-way, and 139,420 acres of nonirrigated class 6 land not meeting the standards for arable lands. Acreages by land class are sununarized in the table on the follow- ing page and are shown on the map on page 14. Agricultural Analyses The farm budget method of analysis was utilized to determine the size of ranch needed to support a family, irrigators' payment capacity, and irrigation benefits. The farm budgets were developed from farm management surveys conducted for 26 full-time ranches in the general project area. The farm budget studies indicated that a ranch capable of supporting a family would require 500 to 545 acres of irrigated land, along with 800 to 900 acres of dry grazing land and about 500 animal uni t months of pub- lic grazing. Ranches of this size would support 305 to 325 cow units. 12