Laserfiche WebLink
<br />rnAPTER I <br /> <br />GENERAL INFORMATION <br /> <br />Organization <br /> <br />Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Memorandum of Understanding <br />between the Soil Conservation Service, Forest Service, and Agricultural <br />Research Service, dated February 2, 1956, a USDA Field Advisory Committee, <br />Colorado River Storage Project was established. The committee is composed <br />of a representative from each of these agencies and a member representing <br />the concerned state agri cu1 tura1 colleges. Principal duties of the commi ttee <br />are to maintain appropriate liai son and fad Ii tate coordination of activi- <br />ties by the respective services and the state agricultural colleges in .the <br />survey. Field relationships with the Bureau of Reclamation and other in- <br />terested state and federal agencies are also a responsibility of the committee. <br /> <br />A USDA Field Party, working under direction of the Us:JA Field Advisory <br />Commi Uee and operating wi thin a plan of work dated August 22, 1956, is <br />headquartered at Salt Lake City, Utah. The party is responsible for the <br />collection and analysis of data and the preparation of this report. <br /> <br />Applicable data from previous investigations were utilized in the study. <br /> <br />Description of the Area <br /> <br />Location and Physical Features <br /> <br />The Florida project is located in the San Juan BaSin, southeastern La Plata <br />County, Colorado. Project lands lie in the Florida River valley and on the <br />Florida Mesa. The northern end of the project is located approximately 12 <br />miles northeast of the d ty of Durango, Colorado, and the southern tip of <br />the project is approximately three miles north of the confluence of the <br />Florida and Animas Rivers. Elevation of the majori ty of project lands <br />varies from 6,500 to 7,000 feet. <br /> <br />Water for the project will be supplied from storage of surplus flows of <br />the Florida River. This river has its source in the rugged San Juan <br />Mountains northeast of Durango. Generally runoff water during the spring <br />snow~elt period exceeds irrigation requirements. <br /> <br />Project lands are wi thin the boundary of the La Plata Soil Conservation <br />District organized March 18, 1947, and with the exception of approximately <br />1,000 acres of Indian land and a small amount of state land, are all <br />privately owned. In the analysis, no distinction was made between the <br />Indi an lands and the private lands. <br /> <br />Soils of the project generally reflect the influences of the geology, semi- <br />arid climate and sparse vegetative cover under which they have developed. <br />Soils can roughly be divided into two groups: <br /> <br />- 1 - <br />