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ou~i181 . CHAPI'ER III ARABLE LANTIS River in places where its canyon is broad eno~gh to permit cultivation. Most tracts o~cupy alluvial fans formed at the mouths of small side drainages. The soils, derived from surrounding sandstone formations, are medium to coarse textured and are generally low in salts and alkali. The lands are gently to moderately sloping and are dissected by occasional g~llies extending toward the river. Land elevations range from 4,200 to 5,800 feet. The lands have adequate natural drainage into the Dolores River. Fisher Valley Area The Fisher Valley Area inclu1es lands in Fisher and Professor Val- leys and along the Colorado River near the mo~tns of Onion and Professor Creeks. Soils of the area have been formed from alluvial o~twash eroded from sandstone formations. They are mostly m~diwm to coarse textured. land elevatio~s range from 4,200 feet near the river to 6,000 feet in Fisher Valley. If developed for irrigation, lands in Fisher and Pro- fessor Valleys would require provisions for drainage. Castleton Area . The Castleton PIea is so~th of the Fisher Area and includes Castle Valley northwest of the La Sal Mountains and Kirks Basin and Taylor Flat on the nortneast slope 01' the mo~ntains. Castle Valley soils are mostly coarse text',lred and contain sandstone fragm,ents anJ boulders on the upper fans. Irrigated soils in the valley are well leached of salt and are moderately or highly productive when weLl supplied with water and fertilizer. Land elevations range from 4,400 to 6,800 feet. Only a moderate drainage requirement would develop with additional irrigation. Kirks Basin and Taylor Flat lands have elevations of from 8,uoo to 8,50a feet. Soils of these mountain lands are highly organic loams, clay loams, aDd clays intermixed on Taylor Flat with stones. Because of the short frost-free perioJ, irrigated crops would be limIted to pasture or to one cutting of alfalfa. There wo~ld be no requirement for drainage un:l.er this cropping pattern. Spanish Valley Area . The SpanIsh Valley Area includes lands in Spanish and Moab Valleys at elevations of from 4,000 to 5,500 feet and lands o~ Wilson and South Mesas at elevations of 7,000 feet. Spanish Valley is the upper portIon and Moab Valley the lower portion of the same valley. ~1e alluvial val- ley soils were derived frcm surrounding sandstone formations. They are 26