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<br />., <br /> <br />\,l <br />,. <br /> <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REPORT <br /> <br />capacity. Land class boundaries were plotted on topographic maps at a <br />scale of 400 feet to the inch and from these maps acreages were computed. <br />Soil borings were made or pits dug wherever necessary, with a minimum of <br />1 hole for each 40 acres. The holes were put down to a depth of 5 feet <br />except in areas where rock or gravel was encountered. Deeper holes, to <br />a depth of 10 or 12 feet, were dug with a power auger on representative <br />areas throughout the project. These deep profiles were examined to deter- <br />mine the character of the substrata, depth to impervious material, and <br />probable subsurface drainage. Subsurface data were also obtained from <br />the river cuts, exposed terrace banks, and from deep test holes drilled <br />by geophysical parties prospecting for oil. <br /> <br />Specifications used in establishing land classes were formulated by <br />the Bureau of Reclamation on the basis of chemical and physical proper- <br />ties of the soils and topographic and drainage features. Six land classes <br />were established as follows: <br /> <br />Class l--Land highly suitable for irrigation farming; <br />capable of producing any crop climatically adapted to area. <br /> <br />Class 2--Land moderately suitable for irrigation farming <br />but less desirable than Class 1 land because of soil, topo- <br />graphic, or drainage deficiencies; capable of producing any <br />crop climatical~ adapted to area. <br /> <br />Class 3--Land of restricted suitability for irrigation <br />farming because of pronounced deficiencies in soil, topographic, <br />or drainage factors; suitable for hay and grain crops but with <br />costly farm practices; particularly adaptable to pasture. <br /> <br />Class 4--Land with one or more excessive deficiencies that <br />prevent production of rotational crops; suitable for pasture or <br />meadow land. <br /> <br />Class 5--Land considered nonproductive because of excessive <br />salt content, lack of natural drainage facilities, or both; not <br />reclaimable under present conditions. <br /> <br />Cla.ss 6--Land considered permanently nonarable. <br /> <br />The survey showed a total of 75,310 acres of arable land, as <br />delineated on the map on the following page. Of this land 60,720 acres <br />were conSidered irrigable and were chosen for project development. <br />Arable lands excluded from the project include 3,300 acres above poten- <br />tial canals, 1,010 acres of Class 5 land which would have been too <br />costly to develop, 1,880 acres re~uired for public rights-of-way, 700 <br />acres in isolated locations} and 7,700 acres of Class 4 land, suitable <br />for pasture but for which no water would be available. <br /> <br />Land USe <br /> <br />Lands in the project area would be utilized for the support of <br />livestock enterprises} particularly dairying. Land classes in the area <br />are so intermingled that land in each class would be included in most <br />of the farm units. In general Class 3 and 4 lands in farm units would <br /> <br />9 <br />