Laserfiche WebLink
-8- <br />• <br /> Four reservoir sites, one for each draw, were selected for <br /> investigation as shown on Figures 3 through 5. The irrigable <br /> areas that could be served by the reservoirs were identified <br /> for each draw, as described above. The storage requirement <br /> was computed for each reservoir by multiplying the irrigable <br /> area below by the annual irrigation requirement and adding an <br /> allowance for evaporation, seepage and operational loss. <br /> Evaporation loss was based on an annual evaporation rate of <br /> 33 inches applied to the reservoir surface area at one-half <br /> the reservoir volume. This was taken from "Average Annual <br /> Lake Evaporation Map of Colorado" obtained from the State <br /> Engineer's Office. Seepage and operational losses were taken <br /> as ten percent of the reservoir capacity. Total dam height <br /> was based on storing the required volume, plus a five foot <br /> allowance for spillway operating head and freeboard. Since <br /> each dam exceeds ten feet in height, design parameters were <br />• based on compliance with the State Engineer's criteria for <br /> dam construction. Table 4 summarizes the potential annual <br /> yield of the four reservoirs. <br />Economic Analysis <br />Four irrigation systems were developed which consist of reser- <br />voirs, headgates and ditches. Construction costs were <br />estimated for the systems including costs for the dams, <br />ditches, headgates and crossing structures. These were then <br />compared to the value of the crops produced on the irrigated <br />area below the reservoirs to evaluate the economic <br />feasibility. Unit costs used in the analysis are summarized <br />on Table 5, and construction costs are summarized on Table 6. <br />The principal cash crop for irrigated farming in North Park <br />is pasture grass and hay. According to the 1979 Colorado <br />Agricultural Statistics, published by the Colorado Department <br />• of Agricultural, the value of hay produced in Colorado varied <br />~(~ Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers.lnc. <br />