WSP02970

• File Number: 8059
• Description: Section D General Studies-State Water Plan
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/1969
• Title: Writing the Report 1969-Colorado River Basin Draft2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

1--

.i
'1
- :.~

....
. '.1.

.,

.

,'. ,-,
\,

: ,

.

/~-\
, ,
,--

.'

f

PART IlI-D

COLORADO RIVER BASIN

I
I
,
\
I
II
I
I

Colorado River
Gunnison River
Dolores River
San Juan River
Total

6,600
5,200

NOTE: The above tabulation should distinguish as to ground or surface

water diversions?!?

IRRIGATION

,
I
I
.,

.In most farm areas of the Colorado River Basin,irrigation is re-

quired for successful crop production. Inftial irrigation developments

;
,
\1
i
.
.
,
I
f
I
il
\
I
I
f

were located along streams where irrigation water could be supplied by

direct diversions. These early developments were constructed by private

individuals, corporation, cooperative water companies, and districts.

.. I"ederal pr'0!;ram;; have assisted in developmem: or some of the larger

irrigated areas and to provjde reservoir storage. Major storage reser-

voirs are listed in Table

55,200
In the Yampa River Subbasin there are ~ acres irrigated and

diversion to these lands averaged about 276,000 acre-feet in 1970. All

these lands are served by privately constructed irrigation facilities.

[I
I
I

There are approximately 150 small canal systems ranging from 1 second-

foot to 60 second-feet. The one major canal system is the 90-second-

foot Maybell Canal operated by the Maybell Irrigation Company. There

are eight privately co~structed reservoirs of over 500 acre-feet in the

Yampa drainage, but additional storage is needed to regulate available

water supplies to the irrigation ~later needs.

0'297

~D.,t-

27