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<br />and regulatory facilities which are inadequate for complete regulation <br /> <br />of the available water .upply for maximum crop utilization. <br /> <br />The unregulated stream flows do not provide an adequate water <br /> <br />supply, and low crop yields, as well as complete failures, have been <br /> <br />common in the project area. For this reason, farm incomes have been <br /> <br />generally low, especially for family-sized farms on which the income <br />is derived almost entirely from cultivated crops. Often too, the <br /> <br />diversion works are rendered partially or wholly inoperative by flood <br /> <br />damage in which case little or no water can be diverted. Further, <br /> <br />floodwaters of the Purgatoire River carry large amounts of sediment <br /> <br />which cannot be entirely separated from the water by even the moat <br /> <br />efficient sluicing devices. The coarse sediment is deposited in the <br /> <br />irrigation distribution syatems and the finer is carried onto the <br /> <br />lands. ~aintenance of the canals and laterals is thereby greatly <br /> <br />increased and absorption of water by the crop lands is retarded. <br /> <br />Because of the law farm incomes, nearly all of the farm operators <br /> <br />have been required to obtain off-farm employment to supplement the <br />family living. The acreage irrigated within the service area historically <br />has not been fixed on a year to year baais. The common practice haa <br /> <br />been for ~armers to expand irrigation when water supplies are above <br /> <br />normal and reduce their acreage when water supplies are limited. <br /> <br /> <br />ApprOXimately 19,149 acres have been irrigated consistently or inter- <br /> <br /> <br />mittently. This acreage is judged to be the maximum acreage irrigated <br /> <br /> <br />in good water years. Maximum acreage irrigated in any single year in <br />recent times has been about 13,174 acres. <br /> <br />11-30 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />