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00 0') ~ ~ CHAPTER II BASES FOR ANALYSES The irrigated acreages required would be in excess of the 160 acres for which water could be provided from a Federal reclamation project under existing law but would be equivalent to 160 acres of class 1 land. If irrigation developments were undertaken, special legislation would be necessary to permit delivery of project water to the acreage equivalents of 160 acres of class 1 land. The equivalent of 160 acres of class 1 land is considered to be 500 acres of class 2M land or 545 acres of class 3M land. Thus each acre of class 2M land is considered equivalent to 0.32 acre of class 1 land and each acre of class 3M land is considered equivalent to 0.29 acre of class 1 land. The agricultural benefits were determined for the total potential irrigation development in the Upper Gunnison Basin and then were distrib- uted to the various units in proportion to the increased irrigation water supply they would receive. The benefits were based on current normalized prices using 1968-72 data. Estimates were made of direct, indirect, and public irrigation benefits. The direct benefits represent the increased net farm income made possible by the project. The indirect benefits include increased profits of enterprises off the farm from handling and processing of farm production and supplying of goods and services to proj- ect farms. Public benefits represent the value of improved community facil- ities and services. Benefits were estimated for conditions of full proj- ect development over a 100-year period of analysis commencing with the first delivery of project water. Adjustments were made for only partial benefits during a 3-year development period for full service lands. No develop- ment period was considered necessary for the supplemental service lands. Estimates were made of irrigators' payment capacity in the same gen- eral manner as estimates of irrigation benefits, with the total capacity determined for the potential irrigation area and prorated to the various units on the basis of the water supply they would receive. These estimates are not pertinent to this report, however, as no irrigation units were found justified for development. Recreation Analysis Recreational aspects of development in the Upper Gunnison Basin were evaluated by both the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and the Forest Service. Data from the Forest Service were used in the analyses since the potential reservoirs would be located on National forest lands. Data from the For- est Service were provided in a letter of April 27, 1972, a copy of which is attached to this report. Fishery Analysis Benefi ts from reservoir fisheries were evaluated by the Bureau of Reclamation in consultation with representatives of the Bureau of Sport 15