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<br />'l,~ <br />N <br />(-"J <br />v-I <br />(7) <br />c.:> <br /> <br />PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WIlli CENTER PIVOT AND <br />CORNER IRRIGATION IN llIE SAN LUIS VALLEY <br /> <br />The problems associated with center pivot and comer irrigation <br /> <br />depend partly on location. Referring to the map figure 2 page 6b <br /> <br />many of the center pivot systems which fall west of the alluvial fill <br /> <br />line in the closed basin area north of the town of Monte Vista have <br /> <br />problems which are unique from those in the prime farmland area (systems <br /> <br />in the Closed Basin north and south of the town of Hooper). Those <br /> <br />systems to the east and north of the prime farmland area also have <br /> <br />unique problems. <br />West of Prime Farmland. Area <br /> <br />There are three major problems associated with the center pivot <br /> <br />systems west of the prime farmland area. <br /> <br />1. The rapid increase in the number of downstream center pivo!: <br /> <br />irrigation systems plus the neglect of some farms by not <br /> <br />using river water coupled with the State Engineers withdrawal <br /> <br />of 10-20% of the river rights are causing a draw down in the <br /> <br />water'table and a shortage of water in the area. The problem, <br /> <br />hils been greatly magnified in the .recent drought years. <br /> <br /> <br />2. In many cases. well rights required that comer wells be abandoned <br /> <br />in order to drill center pivo!: wells in the area. thus shorting <br />the water supply in the comer areas. <br /> <br />3. Much of the land in the comer areas is unlevelled and considered <br /> <br />too rocky or stony for farming. <br /> <br />For most systems in this area. it is considered both physically and <br /> <br />economically impractical to irrigate the comers for farming. <br /> <br />- 8 - <br />