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<br />. <br /> <br />, OI'?3'"l9 <br />OJ!...: IJ <br /> <br />ClIAPrER I <br /> <br />GENERAL DISCUSSIONS <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Telephone service is provided by a locally o~ed exchange headquartered <br />at Pagosa Springs. <br /> <br />School facilities are available at Pagosa Springs. Students are <br />transported to to~ in busses. <br /> <br />Needs and Problems of the Area <br /> <br />Water Resource Development Problems <br /> <br />The widely fluctuating and limited stream runoff and the high <br />cost of reservoir storage, diversion, and distribution facilities are <br />major problems with respect to further irrigation development in the <br />O'Neal Park area. <br /> <br />The project lands consist of relatively small tracts scattered <br />over a large area several miles from the source of water supply. A <br />rather complicated system of long canals is necessary to supply the <br />lands. Al.so the hilly, undulating topography of the lands requires a <br />great number of small laterals and farm ditches. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The canals must, in part, traverse relatively difficult terrain <br />where steep slopes, sandstone outcrops, and shale hills are frequently <br />encountered. This necessitates costly construction of siphons, bench <br />flumes, end chutes in IIlBJlY cases. Flood damage is not a major concern <br />in the area. <br /> <br />Irrigation <br /> <br />Al.though the average precipitation during the growing season is <br />relatively high in the project area, it does not occur uniformly <br />throughout the season and extended dry spells are conmon. The area <br />is also subject to occasional very dry years. Development of a secure <br />and stable irrigation water supply at a reasonable cost to the water <br />users is needed to stabilize and increase the overall production of <br />feed crops to support the local. livestock industry and improve living <br />standards. <br /> <br />Power <br /> <br />Electric energy requirements in southwestern Colorado and <br />San Juan County in northwestern New Mexico amounted to about <br />151,000,000 kilowatt-hours in 1953 or about ~ times the requirements <br />of 1943. This rapidly increasing demand is expected to continue in <br />the future. Demand for electric energy has already outgro~ the <br />present supply. The lack of adequate generating facilities and inter- <br />connected power systems in the San Juan Basin is a serious handicap <br />to future development of the area. <br /> <br />5 <br />