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CHAPTER I SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Without project development the agricultural economy would not be expected to change significantly. Some increased farm income would result as new orchards come into production, but without increased water development this increase would be limited. There is a possibility of some increase in off-farm income from new industrial developments and accelerated coal mining activiti in the surrounding areas. As the popul ation and rec reat ion demand sine rease wster storage and transportation facilities will need improvement or enlargement. Previous investigations The Bureau of Reclamation began general reconnaissance studies in the project area after passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, which allo.cated funding for investigations of possible irrigation projects on Colorado's western slope. Prel iminary plans for the Grand Mesa Project area were outlined in a 1946 Reclamation report on the Colorado River Basin. More specific studies were conducted in the years following and in 1951 a reconnaissance report was prepared which recommended a' dam and reservoir which would store water for the Grand Mesa Project. In 1957 a. reconnaissance report was prepared, based on the passage of the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956, (PL 84-485) which reassessed project plans based on further studies. A second reconnaissance report was released in 1962 as the Paonia Project was nearing completion, and it included an evaluation of the needs of the project area with Paonia Reservoir in place. Feasibility studies conducted by Reclamation began in 1964. Data were collected and analyzed, and a feasibility-level report with accom- panying appendices was near completion in 1973 when Principles and Standards for Water and Related Land Resources Plannin (Principles and Standards were estabhshed by the Water Resources Council. Since the project had not been planned using these procedures, a concluding report was prepared in 1973. Current investigations began in 1977. Problems and Needs The flows of all the streams within the project area are fully utilized during the summer months. The interlocking series of reservoirs on Grand Mesa enhances the summer flows of these stream8 by storing part of the early season excess flows. Water is then released during the irrigation seaaon when the natursl streamflow is low. Irrigation facili- ties aerving presently irrigated lands were constructed by private individuals or small companies with the exception of Fruitgrowers Reservoir which serves some lands below the community of Eckert and was constructed by Reclamation, after failure of the privately-built dam. Farming on project lands is completely dependent upon irrigation since precipitation during the growing season averages only 5.6 inches. 3