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II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I - OD<}?3 . The second column of Table 3-1 gives average annual yields for forage crops among the survey respondents. These yields represent averages over all survey respondents, and some operators reported yields up to 50 percent higher than the average. Estimated yields for small grains, fruit and potatoes were not included in the table since they are based upon relatively few growers. It should be noted that the results in Table 3-1 are not necessarily representative of all data for southwestern Colorado. The field interviews generally were conducted close to the reservations, and the results should be considered representative of that local area. 3.3 The Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) Another source of information concerning irrigated agricultural practices in the area is the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) near Farmington, New Mexico. The NIIP was authorized by Congress in 1962 to settle Navajo Indian reserve rights claims in the San Juan Drainage by providing up to 580,000 acre-feet of water annually for tribal use. Some information on the NIIP was obtained from a report entitled Working Subgroup Report on Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, April 8, 1982 (Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs). Much of the following description was taken from that report. The NIIP consists of a large reservoir east of Farmington, New Mexico, and approximately 110,000 acres of potentially irrigable land. Although the reservoir has been in operation for some time, land is being put into production on a phased ba:is. As of 1982, fewer than one-half of the 110,000 potentially irrigable acres were in agricultural production. 17 &"