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• Due to the increase in the abundance of the rushes and sedges, <br />differences in species composition can be derived between these plant <br />ocamrwtities. Discounting the presence of rushes and sedges no signifi- <br />cant differences in ecological d~~~a~ts are evident. Zbtal potential <br />annual production of the various plant oommunities is presented in <br />Table 41. Meadow production was found to be 3,037 pounds per acre. <br />Discounting the nonagricultural species (sedges and rushes) meadow pro- <br />duction equals 1,779.5 pounds per acre of forage available for grazing. <br />Comparison of this value with total forage production values contained in <br />Table 41 reveals that the treated sagebrush, silver sagebrush, meadow and <br />pastureland sites produce more useable forage. The agricultural value of <br />the study area is thus lower than surrounding undisturbed oanmmities. <br />• Flood Irrigation. Historical records of flood irrigation in Eclat~n <br />Park are poor, but the Routt County Water Coimiissioners Office confirms <br />that there has been no active flood irrigation in the area for at least <br />twenty years. A poorly maintained group of stock ponds and ditches known <br />as the Eckman Park REServoir and Ditch System still exists and is shown <br />as I3~servoir 1, 2 and 3 on the 1Wentymile Park Hydrology (Map 6). <br />Reservoir No. 1 of this system is located in a different watershed from <br />the study area. Although no records of consumptive use are available <br />from the Routt County Water Conmiissioners Office, the pond and ditch <br />system was apparently abandoned in the early 1900's for reasons of poor <br />water quality and availability. According to the original decree of <br />October 8, 1908, ditches 3, 4 and 5 were to irrigate a total of 467 acres <br />of the study area. The water rights to this system are being acquired by <br />C , <br />J <br />785-9(h) <br />