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. . . (lD~!187 CHAPrER III ARABLE LANDS soils are low in salts and alkali but contain gypsum in places where they border or overlie beds of gypsum. If new lands were developed for irrigation, some of the gypsum would be dissolved and carried away by irrigation water and some subsidence of the lands would occur. Land elevations range from 5,000 to 5,700 feet. Waterlogging of part of the presently irrigated lands indicates that an extension of irrigation would result in moderate to high drainage requirements. Little Gypsum Area The Little Gypsum Area in Colorado includes valley lands in Little Gypsum Valley along lower La Sal Creek and Coyote Wash and mesa lands on Wray and Island Mesas. Lands on the Utah portion of these mesas are in the Lisbon Area previously discussed. The valley lands are about 5,400 feet in elevation and are similar to those of the West Paradox Area in text~'e and drainage requirements. The mesa lands are about 7,000 feet in elevation and are isolated. The aeolian soils on the mesas have undulating topography similar to that of the Monticello and. Blanding Areas. Northdale Area The Northd.ale Area extends into Colorado about 12 miles from the Utah-Colorado line in the vicinity of Northdale. It lies between the Monticello Area in Utah and lands that will be irrigated by the author- ized Dolores Project in Colorado. It is part of the Great Sage Plain with aeolian soils underlain mostly with creviced Dakota sandstone. At the bottom of the broad syncline or trough near Northdale the soils are underlain by Mancos shale. The lands have an undulating (ridge and swale) topography. They would have a moderate drainage requirement. Elevations range from 5,500 feet on Cajon Mesa to 7,500 feet on East Summit Ridge. Restricted air drainage on lands near Northdale shortens the growing season in that part of the area. 32