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<br />IMPOR~NT FARMLANDS OF~OLORADO
<br />Flee se soils are typically dry cropland capability
<br />class 11 or III. F1os[ of this land is used for dry
<br />land wheat; however, grain soryltum, forage sorghurtr
<br />and corn is also grown. In most instances, soils
<br />in this categm-y meet the soils requirements for
<br />Pr fine Farmland and would become prime i( they were
<br />irrigated. These areas may or may itot be farmed
<br />at [he present time.
<br />0 [her Categories
<br />Soils which mould be Prime if the Become Irri ated.
<br />TTiis cote gory tas not een t colt to as tmpor Cant
<br />farmland of [Ice state. However, it can be useful
<br />in updating the Important Farmland map as land use
<br />changes. Tliis category also may be helpful in
<br />planning the most beite(iclal use of water from new
<br />irrigation projects. The criteria for defining this
<br />group of soils is the same as those for Pr i~ne
<br />Farmlands wi [li the exception that these soils are not
<br />presently irrigated or are itot irrigated with an
<br />adequate supply of water.
<br />Urban and Urban Built-up Land. These are lands which
<br />erein ur an use or have >T een platted (or subdivi-
<br />sions and will be developed in lire near future.
<br />Water. These are large, pe rnlaitcnt water bodies.
<br />O Liter Land. these arc lauds wire clt do not meet arty of
<br />tTie ark ovc categories. Iluwevrr, some areas are capa-
<br />ble of being used as dry cropland.
<br />Ito atLc~npt was made in this study to differ-
<br />entiate different quality rangelands.
<br />F arinl ands of Local importance
<br />In sonic local areas there is coax ern for certain
<br />additi octal farmlands for the production of food, feed
<br />fiber, forage and oilseed crops, even though these
<br />lands are not idc~tti(ied as having national or
<br />s [atewide importance.
<br />available, Important Farmlands will be identi(icJ
<br />using general soil in(orination.
<br />Illgh quality, as well as adequate water are
<br />essential elemen is of [he Important Farnil and in-
<br />ventory. An attempt was made to identify and
<br />delineate lands where the water supply is adequate.
<br />However, in many instances the availability of water
<br />depends upon priority of water rights. Therefore,
<br />the quantity of irrigation water will vary (roan farm
<br />to farm. The stop? of this study did not include
<br />an oil-site evaluation on a farm to farm basis of
<br />water quality or• quantity.
<br />Adequate, up-[o-date information showing [he
<br />loca[fon of irrigated field boundaries was [he
<br />most difficult data to obtain. The pr inia ry
<br />sow'ce of this information was published land use
<br />maps. Ilowever, in some areas Uiis information was
<br />lacking in detail and had no[ been updated t0
<br />ref lee[ recent changes in irrigated land use. To
<br />supplmne nt this data, personal contact with local
<br />planners and $LS District Lola ervationis is was used
<br />to update existing information. 1976 LanJsat Simu-
<br />lated color infrared prints were used Lo update
<br />maps, f0 Show changes in irrigated lands, In Some
<br />portions of Colorado, land use a ch anginy so
<br />rapidly it is imprac [ical [o ina intain up-tu-date
<br />infa'nation.
<br />Because of thr lack of ctu'ren[ Idnd u;r infor-
<br />mation, sonic orror may exist in Lhr- boundaries of
<br />Prime and Additional Irrigated Farmlands.
<br />In counties which have no Prime Fa r~nlands because
<br />of the shm't growing season, Important Farmland
<br />14aps have no[ been published. These counties art:
<br />JackSOn, GranU, Sunnnit, Licar Creek, Giip in, Park,
<br />L ak c, Chaffee, Gunnison, Ilinsdale, San Juan, Pl Ckin,
<br />1lincral and Cus [c r. Irrigated hay meadows in Lhesc
<br />coun tics are a r.a [eyory of Parent ands that arc of
<br />statewide importance. These areas can be identified
<br />from existing land use maps.
<br />Lands of local impor[aitce are not identified
<br />on this map because the iUentif ication~~of this
<br />category must be determined locally, based on the
<br />local situation, i.e., goals of t' community,
<br />significance of various agr icul' ^n terprises in
<br />terms of how they compliment eacl •r in maintain-
<br />ing a viable agricultural economy; .cal food, fiber,
<br />and feed supplies, etc.
<br />HO!I IMPORTANT FARMLAND MAPS I~lERE MADE
<br />The Important Farmlands 14aps were made by a
<br />cooperative effort between cite Soil Loitservation
<br />Service and the Colorado Sta [e University Experiment
<br />Station.
<br />The data used to identify categories are based
<br />on spec it is soil characteristics and land use
<br />info ring lion. Wlten soil sur-v eys were available, cite
<br />information was reduced and transferrrd to the
<br />base maD. However, the reduced scale necessl[ated
<br />r c~noving some detail of cite original soil maps. A
<br />minimum size delineation of 120 acres was maintained
<br />throughout the projcc [.
<br />' ilie information supplied on this map is
<br />intended for use as a tool in planning larger units
<br />of lapel. Fur Specific information on small tracts
<br />of land, detailed soil and land use information should
<br />' be used. Where detailed 5011 in Pornatlon is not
<br />UPDATING IMPORTANT FARMLAND P1APS
<br />The Important Farmland Flaps leave been con-
<br />structed so that they can be updated as the land
<br />use changes.
<br />As urban areas expand, the new boundary can
<br />s inip ly be added to [he map. UPd acing irrigated land
<br />can be accomplished by ou Llin ing the newly irrigated
<br />land on the map. If a category that is defined
<br />as "Prime if [hey become Irrigated," is irrigated,
<br />it becomes Prime. 1(. the cote gory "Uth r.r Land" 15
<br />irrigated, it becomes "Irrigated Land (Ito[ Prime)."
<br />L ik ew isc, If land is taken out of irrigation, prime
<br />land would revert [o land that vould become prune
<br />if irrigated, and Irrigated Farmlands (Nu[ Prime)
<br />would revert to Other Lands.
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