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. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .n :":' '\; .,~ I) 17 ~.~ .1.1 ._ .:_. , \ A study of the agronomic potential of the two reservations was performed by Boyle Engineering Corporation. The results of that agronomic study are briefly summarized here as background information for the economic analysis. The agronomic study resulted in a list of 15 irrigated crops that could be grown on the arable lands of the two reservations. Not all crops can be grown on all lands, however; crop suitability is a function of several factors including climatic conditions and soil classification. The agronomic study defined 10 climatic zones on the reservations, ranging from under 5000 feet to over 8200 feet in elevation. A summary of the characteristics of these climatic zones is shown in Table 3-4. The results in Table 3-4 indicate that the length of the growing season on the reservations declines systematically as elevation rises. Mean annual temperatures also decline as elevation rises, but there is an inverse relationship between elevation and annual precipitation. Higher elevations on the reservations receive significantly more precipitation than lower elevations. The results of the crop suitability study by climatic zone are illustrated in Table 3-5. Only three crops, grass hay, oat hay, and Christmas trees were suitable for all climatic zones. Generally speaking, a relatively wide variety of crops could be grown at lower elevations, while the choice of suitable crops diminishes as elevation increases. The agronomic study also specified crop suitability as a function of soil classification. That tabulation is presented in Table 5.22 of the Agronomy Study Report, and is not reproduced here. Generally speaking, the results of the agronomic study show that the better quality soils on the 21 - ,oil-._