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. . e Power Market Survey - Colorado River Storage Project where wheat and minor amounts of some other crops are grown by dry-farming methods. In the upper parts of the basin the growing season is short, and the varie ty of crops that can be produced is liJni ted even when water is available. In the lower elevations of the region, water is the keystone to agricultural expansion and development. Some areas show evidence that irrigation canals had been utilized even before the early American settlers arrived. These ancient canals have been reconstructed in some instances to irrigate land near the rivers. However, large-scale irrigation did not begin until after the passage of the Federal Reclamation Act in 1902 and the resulting construction of dams and reservoirs some years later. Irrigated areas now exist in most parts of the region. Extensive irriga- tion is employed in Maricopa and other counties of Arizona. In parts of Utah, farllling based primarily on irrigation has long been one of the principal economic pursuits. The income from W.s type of fanning has, however, been considerably below that which would have been possible had an adequate supply of water been available. Although Utah has had many Federal and state irrigation developments, additional water conservation is basic to its future well-being. Colorado's largest irrigated area lies nortl1east of Denver, Colorado, supplied by the South Platte River. Other major streams supplying irrigation water include the Big Horn River in northwestern Wyoming, the North Platte in southeastern Wyoming, the Colorado in west-central Colorado, the Arkansas River in east-central Colorado, and the Rio Grande in southern Colorado and west-central New Mexico. Much study is being given at present by state and Federal agencies to methods of conserving available water for irrigation use. The Bureau of Reclamation estimates that potential Federal irrigation developments in its Region 4 (which covers Area III, Utah; part of Area lV, Colorado; and part of Area V, Wyoming) would add 1,256,720 acres to the irrigated land of the region, and provide supplementa:ry water to approximately 690,000 acres of land now having an inadequate water supply. Forage crops, particularly alfalfa, supply feed for an extensive livestock industry. In the lower elevations of the southern part of the region the equitable climate permits the growing of fresh vegetables during the winter season for markets throughout the United States. The area is a leading producer of lettuce, carrots, celery, sugar beets, melons, etc. Livestock raising is an important agricultural activity in the entire Colorado River Basin because of the relatively small amounts of water re- quired and because vast areas of land, unsuitable for the growing of field crops, can be used for grazing. Much of this land is owned by the Federal Government. It is believed that the development of the water resources of the Colorado River, together with the increaSing population of the region and expanding industrial activity, will result in future changes in the types of agriculture. Increases in irrigation water supply will tend - 7 -