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002358 CHAP'nlR III PROJECT DEVELOPMENT (yellow Jacket unit) . About 14,510 acres of the irrigable land are in the Yellow Jacket area and range in elevation from 6.300 to 7,400 feet. These lands are situated on a series of small elevated terraces and in the valleys between the terraces. The surface of the terraces is undulating and would present some problems in irrigation. The Josephine Basin area contains 7,030 acres of irrigable land ranging in elevation from 6,200 to 6,900 feet. These lands are situated aD elevated fan-shaped mesaB that were formed by intermittent streams. The Axial Basin area contains 19,600 acres of ir~igable land ranging in elevation from 6,200 to 6,500 feet. The lands a~e situated in an area in the eastern portion of the Axial Basin. Numerous iuter- mittent streams from the surrounding hills have eroded parallel dr'ai=g"ways across the basin. The unit lands are situated in these small valleys a!ld on the ge:>tly sloping ridges between the dxaina"eways. . The aoils forming the irrigable lands for the entire Yellow Jacket unit are principc.lly alluvial. In general they have good s'i;ructu:ce, good water-hcl~ng capacity, and are low in alkalinity aDd salinity. They are ~uite f"rtile ~nd should be highly productive under irrigati,n farDling. The lanc.e in gfOO1cral have g",,-d natural drainege. Some artif'icilJ.l o.rain- age would be r~~vired, however, i4 areas where seepage would collect from higller lauds, ;;here impervious underlying materials have an adverse dip, and in some areas with long distances between natural drainageways. The frost-free period for the different areas of the unit averages about 95 days. The irrigation season averages about 120 days a year in the White River Basin and 132 days in the Yampa River Basin. The average annual precipitation is approximately 16 inches in both basins, about 4 inches of which usually occurs from early May to mid-September. Nonirrigated lands in the unit area are devoted mainly to the produc- tion of dry land wheat while those With a partial irrigation supply produce alfalfa, pasture, and small grains. With adequate irrigation provided by the Yellow Jacket unit, ~rying is expected to be the main farm enter- prise. In support of the dairy industry crop lands would, as at present, be devoted to a.lfalfa, small grains, and pasture. Some other types of farming would probably be practiced in the area but these are expected to be of minor importance. Water supply . With the Yellow Jacket unit in operation over a 15~year period similar to the study period of 1929-43, irrigation st.pplies to the unit lands w~d be increased by an average of 117,920 acre-feet ennually P.S measured at the head of the Axial Canal and at the point where the Yellow' Jacket Canal enters the Yellow Jacket area. ~:ilis increase in supply would include 61