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~~ 4 <br />~~ United States Soil <br />;~3 Department of Conservation <br />Agriculture Service <br />356 Ranney Street <br />Craig, Colorado 81625 <br />Mr. Vetn Pfannenetiel <br />Peabody Coal Company <br />12015 East 46th Avenae, Suite 600, Campus Office <br />Denver, Colorado 80231 <br />Dear Sir: <br />~Ni;;;~';~ ?98i • ~ <br />V. ;i. 'i N:.i..':.1 i..1 <br />April 6, 1981 <br />This letter is in reponae to your request for our evaluation of Grassy <br />Creek~a suitability for irrigation. I drove to the Seneca mine March 24, 1981, .. <br />and followed Crasay Creek down to U.S. 40 (almost to the Yampa River). <br />These items are what I observed. <br />1. Most importantly, if Grassy Creek was economically suitable for lrrigatio~ <br />it would currently be under irrigation. <br />2. The flood plain or valley bottom is not wide enough to develop any type <br />or irrigation system. The fields would be too small to be worked with i <br />conventloaal farm equipment. <br />3. The stream channel meanders which would also limit the size of fields. <br />4. The area in question is in the upper frigid to lower eryeric temperature <br />regime which restricts the growing season, the species that can be planted, <br />end moat of all, production. <br />5. 'v7ater availability is a feast or fammine situation. The spring of the <br />year, water is abundant (except Ln years like this one or 1976-77), <br />When water is really needed in August or early September the flow is usually <br />reduced to a trickle or none at all. <br />6. Without checking, it would be my guess the water has been filed on and <br />is being used at or near the confluence of [he Yampa River. <br />• <br />0 <br />