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f'-. - 0'.:> (..1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Denver, Colorado, December 21, 1937. From Engineer F. C. Merriell To Chief Engineer Subject: West Divide Project, Western Slope Surveys, Colorado. 1. There is submitter. herewith a report on the West Divide Project, Color'lco made fren surV8YS anc investigation con- ducted in 1936 and 1937. West Divice Creek rises in Huntsman's Hills of west centr~l Coloraco, o.nd flows into Colorado River at S11 t. 2. The investigation of this project, which is one of a number of similar ones lJeing studiec in Western Colorado, was financed by an allotment of $150,000 from the Public Works Administra- tion. The field work was limitec to such surveys as would perrait making ITeliminary plans and estimates of the various features of the project. 3. The region has b8en settled far over 50 years, but the economic limit of settlement was reached 30 years ago, with the ir- rigation of all the land which the unregulated flow of West Divide Creek wculd supply. It has been a very lorcsperous and solid neighbor- hood, but the present peri od of reC.uced runoff has so curtailed the water supply of even the old settlers that crop yields and values have steadily (.eclinee. 4. Water may be stored on West Divide Creek that will greatly improve the supply for the present irrigated area. This will permit growing late, cash crops of higher value than the crops now grown, on at least a limited area, and will increase the yield and value of present crops. It will not, however, provide a complete water supply for the present irrigated area, nor permit the additicn of any of the excellent land which lies in large bodies nearby. Encl. F. C. ;,lerriell