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WSP04814
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Last modified
1/26/2010 2:15:44 PM
Creation date
10/12/2006 12:40:02 AM
Metadata
Fields
Template:
Water Supply Protection
File Number
8220.122.A
Description
Paonia Project
State
CO
Basin
Gunnison
Water Division
4
Date
4/1/1957
Author
US Dept of Agricultu
Title
Report of Reappraisal of Direct Agricultural Benefits & Project Impacts: Paonia Project
Water Supply Pro - Doc Type
Report/Study
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<br />The North Fork River and many steep, deeply entrenched tributaries <br />consti tute the drainage system of the valley and surrounding area and <br />, provide water presently used for irrigation. The river is formed by <br />Muddy Creek and Anthracite Creek which m~et at Bal:dine, some 14 miles <br />northeast of Paonia. From this point the North Fork River flows southwest <br />through a steep narrow canyon, emerges into North Fork Valley near Paonia, <br />.and continues on in the same general direction to its junction with the <br />Gunnison RiVer. Among th~ important tributaries of the North Fork River <br />is Leroux Creek which now provides irrigation water for project lands. <br /> <br />Cl imate <br /> <br />The region has a temperate, semiarid climate. Records from Weather Bureac <br />stations at Montrose and Grand Junction have shown the average relative <br />humidity to be only 39 percent. Dryland farming is impractical. <br /> <br />A Weather Bureau station has' been maintained in the vicinity of Paonia <br />since 1892. Precipitation averages 14.95 inches annually, It has varied <br />from a low of 7.67 inches in 1898 to a high of 22.99 inches in 1914. <br />Temperatures generally range from 800 F. to 900 F. in the d~time during <br />the months of July and' August with a mean of 670 F. to 690 F. for these <br />months. The highest recorded temperature is 1000 F. and the lowest is <br />_280 F. <br /> <br />The general climate is satisfactory for diversified irrigation farming as <br />practiced in the area. The position of the project lands, with the <br />mountains to the east and lower lands to the west, causes local air <br />currents to pass across the farmland. This condition has proved valuable <br />in the control of frost action during the spring months and has <br />contributed to the successful production of fruit in the project area. <br />The average frost-free season for the project area varies from 145 to <br />160 d~s. <br /> <br />Present Agriculture <br /> <br />!!!..story o!"p,evelopment <br /> <br />Mining led to the early settlement of western Colorado and brought the <br />areafs first railroad service. The Ute Indians originally occupied the <br />lower sections of west-central Colorado, inclUding the North Fork River <br />Valley. Early efforts by the whites to inhabit the area were retarded <br />by the indians until a compromise agreement between the United States <br />Government and the Ute Indians was reached on September 4, 1881 providing <br />for the Ute Indians to locate on the Uintah Reservation in the territory <br />of Utah. Settlers exploring western Colorado were advised of the pending <br />negotiations and the first group of whites started settling the North <br />Fork River Valley about the time the pact was signed. <br /> <br />Water rights in the valley date from 1882. The rate of settlement and <br />population growth paralleled the development of irrigation facilities <br />in the area and proceeded rapidly until the turn of the century when the <br />natural river flow was f'1.Illy appropriated. Development became stabilized <br /> <br />^ <br />
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