WSP07190

• File Number: 8220.124.A
• Description: Pine River
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1942
• Title: Preliminary Investigation Proposed Pine River Irrigation Project: Preliminary Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

their holdings to secure full water for a feasible unit. The land of

non-operator owners would be mostly available for purchase and might

well be resettled in part by present tenants. In this part of the pro-

ject area the program would well be largely one of resettlement by

readjustment of the farmers nOW' there so far as they are sui table ana

desire it.

As many as desire of the 13 settlers now on the new lands to be brought

under irrigation should be resettled within the area.

In connection with the matter of availability of dry lands for pUrchase

it should be pointed out that the Indian Service is reported to be carry-

ing on land acquisition negotiatio~, mostlY,in the eastern part of the

dis~rlct and farther east in adjoining Archuleta Oounty. but some within

or adjoining the project area. It is not known that these are so much

irrigable lands as dry lands and it seems that the. purpose is to close

out whites to relieve grazing dem9Dds and secure grazing rights. and to

secure lane. for pasture use by the Indians. It is reported that the In-

dian Service is mindful of concentration of settlement of whites if they

might affect the status or rights or privileges or opportunities of the

Utes. Insofar as this reported policy might affect the rehabilitation

and resettlement programs of Farm Security Administration it would be a

matter for separate report.

,

In all it is estimated that some 12,451 acres of irrigable land and about
15.349 acres of non-irrigable lands of all sorts are available for acquisi-
tion and resettlement. It is believed that the farm unit should coatain