WSP03981

• File Number: 8509
• Description: Closed Basin Division
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 3/1/1979
• Author: Ronald Rhoade - US D
• Title: Economic Analysis of Utilizing Corner Areas of Center Pivot Irrigated fields for Wildlife Habitat in the San Luis Valley
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ECDNOMIC ANALYSIS OF lITILIZING CDRNER AREAS OF CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATED FIELDS
FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT IN TIlE SAN LUIS VALLEY - CDLORAOO. By Ronald R. Rhoade;
Natural Resource Economics Division, Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives
Service; lJ.S. Department of Agriculture; Washington, D.C. 20250; March 1979.

ABSTRACf

Center pivot irrigation systems leave field comers unirrigated. Four alter-
natives were analyzed for utilizing field comers in the San Luis Valley:
(1) Irrigation by conventional surface system; (2) Idle comers, with culti-
vation to control weeds; (3) Provide permanent cover for comers; and (4)
Mechanical comer irrigation system in combination with the center pivot.
Alternative 4 was most profitable for the farmer but required the highest
investment. Benefits from Alternative 3 included reduced wind erosion, con-
trol of noxious weeds and increased wildlife habitat. These benefits, some
of which would accrue to nonfa:rmers, were not evaluated monetarily.

Keywords: Colorado; irrigation; center pivot; comer use; wildlife habitat.

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* This paper was prepared for limited distribution to the *
* research community outside the U.S. Department of Agriculture. *
* The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of ESCS *
* or USDA, *
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ACKNOWLEDGlENTS

The author wishes to recognize the cooperation and assistance provided by
the Center Colorado Soil Conservation Service field office staff, especially
Richard Sparks and AcieGurmels. Also recognition is given to the local
growers and dealers who gave assistance and finally to the San Luis Valley
Potato Administrative Committee and the San Luis Valley Farm and Ranch
Management Association for providing necessary data for developing the
budgets in this document.

CON1ENTS

SlIITDllaT)' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 4
Problems Associated with Center Pivot and Comer Irrigation
in the San Luis Valley.,...........................,.,..,....,...,.... 8
Alternatives for Center Pivot Use and Corner Management.................ll

Conclusions.......... .................................................. .14