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N c...., co r- Proposal. Letters of support from these agencies are attached. A local coord i nat i n9 comm i ttee is be i n9 formed to carry out this proJect. Membership wi I I include representatives for the SC5, A5CS, CE, 50i I Conservation Districts and others. DESCRIPTION OF AREA The Patterson Hollow USDA Water Qual ity Hydrologic Unit Area is located in Pueblo and Otero Counties, Colorado. The hydrologic unit consists of about 89,850 acres. Of the total acreage, 3,100 acres are urban, 26,850 acres are rangeland and 59,700 acres are irrigated cropland. Irrigation water is furnished by the Rocky Ford Highl ine, Oxford, Otero, Rocky Ford, and Catl in canals. This area is within hydrologic unit number 11020005. The land is located south of the Arkansas River, from the eastern edge of La Junta where the otero Canal outlets into Kings Arroyo, .north 'of the Highl ine Canal and east of the Highline/Oxford gaging station on the Arkansas River. This area contains the towns of Fowler, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, Swink, and La Junta. The Arkansas Valley Research Station is within the project area. The area is within congressional district number 4 represented by Representative Hank Brown. Within the hydrologic unit area there are 482 owners of irrigated cropland which consists of 59 white women, three hispanic women, seven units of government, ten oriental males, ten hispanic males, nine corporate owners and 384 white male owners. There are 505 operating units with 255 operators having less than 80 acres. Census data indicates approximately 50 percent of the operators are limited. resource farmers. Cropping patterns within the area consists of 35% corn, 24% alfalfa, 16% vegetables, 12% small grains, 8% sorghums, and 5% dry beans. The vegetables are primarily melons, onions, tomatoes, and watermelons with smaller acreages of asparagus, parsnips, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins and sweet corn. Climatically, the area is characterized by warm summers and mild winters. The area has a 180 day growing season with an average annual precipitation of 11.5 inches. The elevation varies from about 4040-4350 feet above sea level. The soi I in the project area are generally loams and si Ity clay loams with slopes of mainly 0 - 1 percent, but with 6