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I. INTRODUCTION <br />The purpose of this report is to evaluate Dowe Flats agricultural <br />ecosystems and to recommend management opportunities that may be <br />warranted for the improvement of the resource base. Field work <br />performed included field by field evaluations, analysis of the <br />soil constraints, survey of the cropping systems, evaluation of <br />the rangeland eco-types and pasture lands, and an in-depth survey <br />of the prairie dog colonies. Consequently, the following opportuni- <br />ties to manage the land according to quality agricultural standards <br />and to meet the needs of the resource base are presented. <br />II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION <br />Dowe Flats is located in Boulder County in sections 9, 10, 15, <br />16 and 17 in Township 3 North, Range 70 West of the 6th principal <br />Meridian (See Figure 1). <br />Dowe Flats is a broad valley approximately one and one-half miles <br />wide, with~a southern incline. It is bordered by Indian Mountain <br />on the Northwest and Rabbit Mountain on the Northeast. Dowe Flats <br />is situated Northeast of Lyons and Northwest of Hygiene at an eleva- <br />tion approximately 4,900' to 6,000' above sea level. <br />The property consists of rangelands, pasturelands, haylands, both <br />irrigated and non-irrigated, dryland crops that are strip farmed <br />and some irrigated cropland. Cropping system alternatives for <br />the land uses are severely limited because of soil constraints, <br />potential erosion hazards, and the average annual precipitation <br />of the area (see Soil Constraints in Appendix listed under Soil <br />Capability Classifications). <br />III. PRESENT CONDITIONS <br />Dowe flats agricultural management is controlled by the Loukonen <br />family of Lyons, Colorado. Mr. Loukonen and his sons farm and <br />ranch the entire property. They are presently producing cereal <br />grains, alfalfa, and are graving livestock throughout the valley. <br />The major cropping systems that have been implemented are as follows: <br />A. Stripcroppinq_q: The majority of the land farmed east of County <br />Road 53 is planted to annual cereal grains in strips alterna- <br />ting with fallow strips. Approximately 50Y of the farmed land <br />remains fallow annually, with the exception of a few strips <br />J that have recently been established in alfalfa. Harvesting <br />ttlf of the various crops includes the use of machinery and/or graz- <br />ing of livestock. <br />M <br />