U. S. Department ef Agricu Official Business
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The Colorado -Big Thompson Project will permit Colorado to cooitissi 'Li
increase its taxable woalth/,through the centuries of use of this needed 7111'S new .supply vo'i) .113,*:e tt yNc( e
supplemental water supply. aftistaibilmilMIVOMMIKW,,eammikasto agricultural
development of one of the largest irrigated sections in the semi-arid third of the United States. It will be self-liquidating. It will definitely
tt St("t
provide social securiti for the existing population of this 100614;-41=141 and the opportunity for normal population growth. It is not a colonization
sc eme. Its succesQ does not depend upon stimulated migrption from egg other c-!,,-orrie5.4 nteo.
parts of the country. It is anisidikann from 175,000 hardy, self-reliant American farmers and townspeople for aid in constructing the.se nee!led
supple-4 p v.-sr s e, &b./ eyvvi c v $.4.4 itt vet mental irrigation facilities to stabilize„,1dmiirk Ikti4
To understand the importance of this project, it is neceiiissary to remind ourselves nf the problems and opportunities of this great Rockz Mountain Region. mnuntain third of our nation's area was zbeitslosmtbowbrsr
eovV\1 itorele/Gey'S `4, Otres 6-0 3
less than a century ago‘p Its population today would beA601110,0100 if it could support the same number of persons per square mile as now live in the eastern half of the United States. Actually, today, about, ..07.-40114710C1
-147
American zens, nr about *persons to the square mile, live in this mountain section of our country. Nearly all these people are concentrated
VVWfr,^q' PA, kri
in the irrigated areas in which water hes.beewm481, availablejW.11666140 in
A tt> LOttik, r /avut..1
sufficient amount to permit crops to be grown and cities to prosper. These favored oases have been directly responsible ifor the building and growth of
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such cities as Denver, Salt Lake, Phoenix, and numer us other centers of A
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R-i(An
ezle
ct.:wt_t
t-tdc) CA L •in providing for the security of State and Illation in this combined wealth of land and water. Either of these natural assets when taken alone are of little value--joined they constitute the foundation of the agricultural development of this western country.
This Colorado-Big Thompson project comprises 615,000 acres of irrigated lands in the northern and northeastern part of Colorado,*.mwsOr Part.409100,411;iiiale4wermed -taintaleirgrir This portion of Colorado was
pioneered daring the Civil Wayind the use of water for irrigation reached the point of over-appropriation of available supply about 1910..
This irrigated area was developed by means of individual initiative and small-scale cooperative enterprise, especially the mutual ditch company. Therel-re 6,400 irrigated farms today in this project area, served by 124
canals and
di
ches and about 60 storage reservoirs. It is now proposed to supplement and stabilize the water supply available to these thousands of farm families by creating a district-wide mutual agency, or a thority, to serve as project operator under the Bureau of Reclamation.Over-appropriation of the existing water suply is a far-reaching negative factor. Some of the best lands of large area are poorly served by canals having the least reliable water right, under these present conditions. This unfortunate and economically wasteful situation can be corrected only through increase in the total water supply, since it would be coafiscatiin of property to take from the poorer land its value base, namely, its dependable water right,
-3_
Due to this condition of over-appropriation more than three-fourths of all the 615.000 acres in this project area are being served more
or less by junior water rights. These junior appropriators cannot today foresee what next yearts water supply will be. Theymust therefore plant
grain crops, which usually have a low return value and require little water, or gamble on higher value crops, requiring much water and late irrigation. The former practice means marginal income and puts our more expensive irrigated lands in logical competition with the great natural wheat areas of the middle
west. The latter practice means variable income and at times years of down-right poverty which calls for governmental reliPf agencies to bear the load of family maintenance. During 1934, Federal agencies spend large sums of money on relief. including CIA and IPA projects in this northern Colorado area. Most of this expense will disappear if the junior appropriators can plan to use a dependable and adequate annual water supply. such As this supplemental project will provide.
Water shortage affects the junior appropriators in curtailed crop yields. Detailed study permits the estimate that, for the past eleven years, the average annual crop curtailment due to insufficient water has
reduced farm imcome for these 6,400 farm from 330,700,000 to about $26,000,000 annually.
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Xiimination of this factor of curtailed yield through unnecessary drouth conditions will equal the estimated $25,000,000 project construction cost in about
6
years.On about one-tenth of the farms of this region are to be found wells from which grflind water is pumped to supplement the farmers inadequate ditch supply. this practice of the depletion of the ground-water storage will ultimately deprive some other dimmior appropriator farther down stream of his ditch water which in some cases is wholly derived from the return flow of this ground 'water back into the stream. It is an obvious and fundamental fact that the present over-appropriation of our total water supply cannot be cured by shifting the existing supply from one farm to another. Pumping out and using this under-ground water supply will ultimately, unless replaced by new surface supplies, reduce some of the downstream irrigated farms served by junior appropriation to a level of dry-land.farming:. some such families as would thereby be affected may have to be resettled at considerable expense. Additional water brought into these stream basins from across the mountains will remove this growi!Ig menace and largely correct this pending condition. The lowering of the ground water level through pumping reflects in higher crate for operation and more expensive equipment.
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111,TAANI,Aaliiarnia* and Utah, in wnich states bodies-ottiontor, art,Ipostpmenossemilew, maredeade reserylire have becnme immortant recreational fm04Ors-: This is tme, et,Otortite as weil k The cnnstruction and operation plans of this great project provide for iull use of the reoreational
advantages offered by the lakes to be created. The scenic beauty in the vicinity of arand Lake will be enhanced; namely, the enlargement of this
c.›.-vi et.
lake to about three times its present areal IC miles of forested lace front with a constant lake level the year around. Such an improvement will greatly extend the possibilities of ideal sites fnr summer homes and cottages 411 this attractive area. Sufficient water will remain in the mountain streams of the Upper Colorado river to provide for the popular out—door sport of trout
fishing and the attending recreational feature of camping—out in the mountains.
be dr, vcm
The tunnel willimm in solid rock thousands of fest P
beneath the beautiful wilderness of the Rocky 'auntain National Park. Tunnel waste or spoil banks, outside but near the park boundaries, will be landscaped. Methods of harmonizing the appearance of towers of transmission
oftt
lines with the natural coloring of the countryside 40 being considered. These workt of
man can
be made attractive and so designed and built as not todetract frnm the scenic beauty of the surroundingt,
::he northern Colorado irrigated farm area is a 4200,000,000 aational asset inhabited by 175,000 American citizens, who are nearly all of America, Anglo—Saxon, and Nordic stock, Less than 0, also American citizens
of many generations, are of Spanish and ilexican parentage, attracted here by
,a4;•.:t.
—C. CA iltAferlmA7t%the opportunity. for higher earnings.Wasirlber44. 047.4144msetthere—sombh. Without this additional water supply, northern Colorpdn must support fewer farm families and must face further increase in its alreadY high percentage of farm tenancy, This will come about through the pressure of poverty years upon the junior appropriators of the existing water supply, which is fully adequate only in extremely wet yer,rs.
On the other hand this supplemental water project when completed, will water wmpply for lands whose fertility has been proved through 70 years. It will increase the yield of Colorado's specialty crops, such as lambs fattened in feed lots for the market, celery, melons, and beet sugar—all national assets not competing
with excessive production capacity elsewhere in this country.
By raising the average value of crops this supplemental water supply will become aa important national resource, materially increasing the taxable wealth in reflecting tax inc-ms returns to State and Nation.
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The Colorado-Big Thompson Project will permit
Colorado to increase its taxable wealth. It will insure the
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• acradcultural development of thejargest irrigated moss4e in the
r\
Asemi-arid third of the United States. It will be
self-/I-I-L.0
ligaidating. It will definitely providehe existing
popula-tion of this great area social secvrity•
and the opportunity
for mairmral population growth. It is not a colonization
scheme. Its success does not depend upon stimulated migration
from any other partof the country. It is a petition from
175,000 hardy, self-re ant American farmers and townspeople
for aid in constructing needed supplemental irrigation
facil-ities to stabilize the economic success now attained.
To understand the importance of this project,
it is necessary to remind ourselves of the problems and
of
opportunities/this great Rocky kountain Region. This mountain
third of our nation's area was acquired by conquest less tin
a century ago. Its population today would be 80,0000000 if
it could support the same number of persons per square mile
as now live inthe
e astern half of the United States.
Actually, today, about 6,000,000 American citizens, 9r about
2e0r(A041.444
6 persons to the square mile, live in this
'ROcky
Aci*litfrifof our country. Nearly all these peopdie are
concen-trated in the irrigated areas in -which water has been made
available by nature in sufficient amount to permit crops to
be grown and cities to prosper. These favored oases have been
directly responsible for the building and growth of such cities
2
as Denver, Salt Lake, Phoenix, and numerous other centers of
popult
ion.
In 1806, Lt. Zebulon Pike, in his report to Congress
at that time did not seethe great possibilities of irrigation
and the conve elan of millions of acres of the plains country
1j. •
.
• •, • in•( trt k-A.47.1t, ti-•() t " •into fertile arden spo,t,,.
Experience gained during the past
has left no doubt as to the advantages of irrigation in
pro-viding for the security of State and Nation 13a.
t2i.A,,,CN
wealth of land and water. Either of these natural assets
when taken alone are of little value--joined they constitute
the foundation
4d acr•
-t.k' e,L.J(s CP.M4Lkj'oa.v14AA' LALA!/0This Colorado,-Big Thompson project comprises 615,000
acres of irrigated lands inthe northern and northeastern part
of Colorado, a major part of which may be termed
the Deer
area.
This :ortion of Colorado was pioneered 0(-4.,/,
1P0.4, and the use of water for irrigation reached the
point of over-appropriatiOn of available supply about 1910.
This irrigated area was developed by means of
individual initiative and small-scale co-operative enterprise,
especially the mutual ditch company. There are 6,400
irri-gated farms today in this project area, served by 124 canals
tt. atrt..AA C ,<r&.•1 f LN
and ditches' It is now proposed to supplement and stabilize
the water supply available to these thousands
of farm families
mutual
by creating a district-wide/agency, or authority, to serve as
project operator under the Bureau of lieelamation.
Over-appropriation of the existing water supply is a
far-reaching negative factor. Some of the best lands of large
area are poorly served by canals having least reliable water
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1444A-441.4i,1:t4
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3
right, under these present conditions. This unfortunate
and economically wasteful situation can be corrected only
throuFh increase in the total water supply, since it would be
confiscation of property to take from the poorer land its
value base, namely, its dependable water right.
Due to this condition of over-appropriation more
than three-faurths of all the 615,00C acres in this project
area are being served more or less by junior water rights.
These junior appropriators cannot today foresee what next
year's water supply will be. They must therefore plant grain
crops, which usually have a low return value and require
little water, or gamble on, higher value crops, requiring much
water and .X.,**.C.
cuttl"
The former practice
means marginal income and puts ou; 1;;;;;3nsIve irrigated lands
in logical competition with the great natural wheat areas of
the middle west. The latter practice means variable income
and4-ears of downright poverty which calls for governmental
relief agencies to bear the load of family maintenance. During
w
1934, Federal agencies
tato ,
46,14,,,,,,,L4-144t,uis
7
nrelief,
c,
Including CWA and WPA
4
in this northern Colorado area. Most
of this expense will disappear if the junior appropriators
can plan to use a dependable and adequate annual water supply,
such as this supplemental project will provide.
Water shortare affects the junior appropriators
arc)p
in
curtailed,
\
yields. Detailed study permits the estimate
that, for the past eleven years, the average annual crop
cur-tailment due to insufficient water has reduced farm income
for these 6,400 farm from 430,700,000 to about 26,000,000
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annually.
adequate ditch supply. This practice
4,47)-t
LAlc-parePaegersoilemornt will ultimately deprive some pthr junior
appropriator farther down stream of ditch
water-.
Elimination of this factor of curtailed yield through
unnecessary drouth conditions will equal the estimated
t25,0000000 project constructioncost in about 6 years.
(bout
one-tenth of the farms of this region 0.0.4net.
6,6
wells from which it
ground water •
pplement
tfi
ar-o•-•/"A-4 r/ a, C,W01,13 '24
from the return flow of this ground water back into the stream.
It is an obvious and fundamental fact that the present
over-appropriation of our total water supply can not be cured by
shifting the existi
supply from ne farm to another. klump;44
66
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will ult
ely reduce some of the
downstream irrigated farms
junior appropria
to
6 ikie311trt
thcre-6,S
ciruylamd farmeA9, Some such familiesA may have to be resettled
at.fiessmeg expense. Additional water brought into these stream
basins from across the mountains will remove this growing
menace and /Orlelj correct this pending condition. C
There would be little point to this discussion if
there did not exist, a few milea west of this Northern Colorado
eLeta.
w izicl" ,et,tIA%
area, an ample supply of supplemental water *hichAis now
flow-ing out of Colorado unused.
The Colorado River Compact
provides that the four upper basin states may take up to
)15at
7,500,000 acre feet for upper basinAuse. It is proposed to
32
ti)ponON Outdivert 4441.70ftacre-feet annually of this total
with/jeopardiz-ing or Impairwith/jeopardiz-ing existwith/jeopardiz-ing rights to Colorado River water. This
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mevert acrc-feet will be brought through
a 10402mile tunnel
bc
iittrf2d
;A •under the Continental Divide and will pcmx-Inte reservoirs
later to serve the northern Colorado area of aver-fippropriation.
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ThAlc!aeoreee acre- feet of supplementary- water will increase
the present average annual water supply by about one-fourth.'
In Txas„ California, and Utah, in which states bodies
of water are relatively few, man-made reservoirs have become
important recreational factors. This is true of Colorado as
-4"
n"rt
well. The construction and operation plans,proide for full
use of the recreational advantalLoffered by the lakes to be
-
Ace)
€(.;
created.
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41 1-4.1,,t, A,11..a.t., lel cer174- tAlr. .4A.A.
r AIA.,?14,,,,,-4 4 r-Will eCA?M74 - ! ,4,Zt-tA ,A.7.(c. ;.(ii..7 7 -ettirktetent-ta,tlartirrlie—re±:: . 1.4 --; .., - . , , 1 - •-1 .,'
*nor() succesaful_atoolglas,...'
The
/34 /- mile tunnel will run in solid rock
thous-ands of feet beneath the beautiful wilderness of Rocky Mountain
National Park.
A
Spoil banks, outside but near the park
boundaries, will be landscapecil.
•-ne‘tictnal forest land
)
swne miles south of Rocky Mountain nation..
coat of
al park, will wear a dull brown/paint, almost invisible
-against Ult. mounta-iftelds..\
The northern Colorado irrigated farm area is a
i200,000,000 national asset inhabited by 175,000 kraerican
citizens, who are nearly all of American, Anglo-Saxon, and
Nordic stock. Less than 0,
also American citizens of many
generations, are of Spanish and Mexican parentage, attracted
Ctit-e 4.
-&<yrts-ed
) Zb 'ft -1. ,12-4-7; eNtO 24:4„ctitiz6
here by the opportunity for higher earnings than is their
lot farther to the south.
Without this additional water supply, northern
Colorado must support fewer farm families and must face
fur-ther increase in its already high percentage of farm tenancy.
This will come about through the pressure of poverty years
upon the junior appropriators of the existing water supply,
which is fully adequate only In extremely wet years.
On the other hand this supplemental wuter project,
when completed, will provide adequate water supply for Inds
whose fertility has b een proved through 70 years. It will
increase in the yield of Colorado's specialty crops, such
as lambs fattened in feed lots for the market, celery, melons,
and beet sugar—all national assets not competing with
excessive production capacity elsewhere in this country.
PT raising the average value of crops this supplemontal water
supply will become an important national resource, materially
Increasing the taxable wealth in reflecting tax income returns
to State and Nation.
VMS COLORADOBIG THOKPSON PROJXOT
The Colorado-Big Thompson Project will permit Coloredo to increase its taxable wealth through the centuries of use of this needed supplemental water supply. It will insure the complete agricultural
development of one of the largest irrigated sections in the semi-arid third of the United States It will be self-liquidating. It will definitely provide social security for the existing population of this great area and the opportunity for normal population growth. It is not a coloniTation
scheme. Its success does not depend upon stimulated migration from any other parts of the country. It is a petition from 175,000 hardy, self-reliant American farmers and townspeople for aid in constructing these needed supple-mental irrigation facilities to stabilize the economic success now attained.
To understand the importance of this project, it is necessary to remind ourselves of the problems and opportunities of this great Rocky Mountain Region. This mountain third of our nation's area was acquired by conquest less than a century ago. Its population today would be 80,000,000 if it could support the same number of persons per square mile as now live in the eastern half of the United States. Actually, today, about, 6,000.000 American citisens, or about
6
persons to the square mile, live in thismountain section of our country. Kearly all these people are concentrated in the irrigated areas in which water has been made available by nature in sufficient amount to permit crops to be grown and cities to prosper. These favored oases have been directly responsible for the building and growth of such cities as Denver, Salt Lake. Phoenix, and nueer -us other centers of population.
In 1806, it. Zebulon Pike, in his report to Congress at that time did not see the great possibilities of irrigation and the conversion
of millions of acres of the plains country into fertile fields which today represent the basic wealth of this great mountain and plain empire. Ixperience gained during the past has left no doubt as to the advantages of irrigation in providing for the security of State and. liation in this combined wealth of land and water. iither of these natural assets when taken alone are of little value--joined they constitute the foundation of the agricultural development of this western country.
This Colorado-Big Thompson project comprises 615,000 acres of irrigated lands in the northern and northeastern part of Colorado, a major part of which. may be termed the Ureeley area. This portion of Colorado was pioneered during the Civil 3ar and the use of water for irrigation reached the point of over-appropriation of available supply about 1910.
This irripted area was developed by means of individual initiative and small-scale cooperative enterprise, especially the mutual ditch company. There are 6,400 irrigated farms today in this project area, served by 1'4
canals and di ches and about
60
storage reservoirs. It is now proposed to supplement and stabilise the water supply available to these thousands of farL families by creating a district-wide mutual agency, or av.thority, to serve as project operator under the bureau of Reclamation.Over ;Ivropriation of the existing water sup ly 10 a far-reaching negative factor. Some of the best lands of large area are poorly served by canals having the least reliable water right, under these present conditions. This unfortunate and economically wasteful situation can be corrected only
through increase in the total water supply, since it would be confiscatila of property to take from the poorer land its value base, namely, its dependable
-3-Due to this condition of over-appropriation more than three-fourths of all the 615,000 acres in this project area are being served more or less by junior water rights. These junior appropriators cannot today foresee what next year's water supply will be. Theymust therefore plant
grain craps, which usually have a low return value and require little water, or gamble on higher value crops, requiring much water and late irrigation. The former practice means marginal income and puts our more expensive irrigated lands in logical competition with the great natural wheat areas of the middle
west. The latter practice means variable income and at times years of down-right poverty which calls for governmental relief agencies to bear the load of family maintenance. During 1934. Federal agencies spend large sums of money on relief. including CA and WFA, projects in this nortivq.n Colorado area. Most of this expense will disappear if the junior appropriators can plan to use a dependable and adequate annual water supply, such as this supplemental project will provide.
later shortage affects the junior appropriators in curtailed crop yields. Detailed study permits the estimate that, for the past eleven years, the average annual crop curtailment due to insufficient water has
reduced tars 'acme for these 6.400 farm from 330,700.000 to about 326,000,000 annually. This loss per farm, on the average, amounts to about 034 per year which measures the difference between amere existence and a small profit to the farmer for his labor and hired help.
Ilimination of tnis factor of curtailed yield through unnecessary drouth conditions will equal the estimated 325,000,000 project construction cost in about
6
years.On about one-tenth of the farms of this region are to be found wells from which grrlind water is pumped to supplement the farmers inadequate ditch supply. This practice of the depletion of the ground water storage will
-4-ultimately deprive some other junior appropriator farther down stream of his ditch water which in some cases is wholly derived from the return flow of this ground water back into the stream. It is an obvious and fundamental fact that the present over-appropriation of our total water supply can.innt be cured by shifting the existing supply from one farm to another. raping out and using this under-ground water supply will ultimately, unless replaced by new surface supplies, reduce some of the downstream irrigated farms served by junior appropriation to a level of dry-land farming. Some such
families
as
would thereby be affected may have to be resettled at considerable expense. Additional water brought into thesestream
basins from across the mountains willrelieve
this growing menace and largely correct this pending condition. The lowering of the ground water level through pumping reflects in higher costs for operation and more expensive equipment.There would be little point to this discussion if there did not exist, a few miles west of this Northern Colorado
area,
an ample supply of supplemental water whidh can be made economically available and is now flowing out of Colorado unused. The Colorado River Compact provides that thefour
upper basin ,states may take up to 7,500,000 acre feet for upper basin consumptive use. It is proposed to divert 320,000 acre-feet annually of this total without jeopardising or *pairing existing rights to Colorado River water. This 320,000 acre-feet will be brut througha
13.1 mile tunnel under the Continental Divide and will be storedin
reservoirs later to serve the northern Colorado area of over-appropriation. These 320,000 acre.. feet of supplementary water,with its additional accumulation of return flow,will increase the present average annual water supply by about one-fourth. In Texas. California.
and
Utah, in which states bodies of water are relatively few, man-made reservoirs have become important recreational-5..
factors. This is true of Colorado as well. The construction and operation plans of this great project provide for gull use of the recreational
advantages offered by the lakes to be created. The scenic beauty in the vicinity of 4rand Lake will be enhanced; namely, the enlargement of this lake to about three times its present area; 12 miles of forested lake front
with a constant lake level the year around. Such an improvement will greatly extend the possibilities of ideal sites for summer homes and cottages on this attractive area. jufficient water will remain in the mountain streams of the Upper Colorado river to provide for the popular out-door sport of trout
fishing and the attending recreational feature of camping-out in the mountains. The 13.1 mile tunnel will run in solid rock thousands of feet beneath the beautiful wilderness of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Tunnel waste or spoil banks, outside but near the park boundaries, will be landscaped. Methods of harmonizing the si.pearance of towers of transmission
lte
lines with the natural coloring of the countryside being considered. These works of man can be made attractive and so designed and built as not to
detract frlen the scenic beauty of the surroundings.
The northern Colorado irrigated farm area is a 4200.000,000 national asset inhabited by 175.000 American citizens, who are nearly all of America, Anglo-Saxon, and Nordic stock. Less than 84, also American citizens of many generations, are of Spanish and ,Ieixican parentage, attracted hers by the opportunity for higher earnings than is their lot farther to the south.
Without this additional water supply, northern Colorado must support fewer farm families and must face further increase in its already high percentage of farm tenancy. This will come about through the pressure of poverty years upon the junior appropriators of the existing water supply, which is fully adequLte only in extremely wet years.
-6-On the other hand this supplemental water prnject when completed, will provide adequate water supply for lands whose fertility has been proved thrnugh 70 years. It will increase in the yield of Coloradots specialty crops, such as lambs fattened in feed lots for the market, celery, melons, and beet sugar—all national assets not competing with excessive pr-‘duction capacity elsewhere in this country. This prnject area when com ared with the state am a whole produces about 1/3 of the total
farm
crop values and possesses more than 1/5 of all livestock values. By raising the average value of crops this supplemental water supplywill become au important national resource, materially increasing the taxable wealth In reflecting tax inc-me returns to State and Nation.
c, e
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tAtax)L;v7
t OIA
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e . 4.
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-e C....0-1-1..-0-1.1.-1,L,,t,
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,Let t.-- .4. -4.*-1.1 (A.._)-e.... t4!--z_)
cs)The Colorado-Dig Thompson Projecti which as
now
planned provides for seven storage reservoirs varying
in
capacity from 50,000 to 482,000 acre-feet, about 70
*nes of
<x 35
oitlie
volViir
Qn
canals,
-err& 800 second-foot pumping plan-V.,
/
a transmountain
tunnel
-1=5===l e:2 miles long and numerous other necessary
con-struction works to divert, impound and control surplus waters
of the Colorado River near Grand Lake, Colorado, and turn
this
needed supplemental irrigation supply to the east slope area
to serve about 615,000 acres in Boulder, Lorimer, Weld, Morgan,
Logan, Washington, and Sedgwick counties in northern Colorado.
The four storage reservoirs on the west slope of the
Con-/
tinental Divide totals a capacity of 684,000 acre-feet and the
three on the east slope totals 256,000 acre-feet. The seven
reservoirs providing 940,000 acre-feet or about 1 1/2 times
the present storage of all the reservoirs in the South Platte
River drainage now used to serve the area to be covered by this
supplemental supply. This area constitutes 6400 individual
farmswith an average of 96.5 acres.
Irrigationwas first
12/
since that time development has progressed rapidly to a point where the present water supply for irrigation is now found wholly inadequate to meet the needs. The topography of these lands, the character of the soil to-gether with climate and water has created a present real property value of more than two hundred million dollars with about 175,000 inhabitants living within the area.
Agriculture is the chief industry and covers a wide range of activity. Aside from the raising of general field crops such as alfalfa, sugar beets, potatoes, grain, corn and special crops of fruits vegetables and seeds, there is found here an intensive livestock feeding center where sheep, cattle and hogs are fattened for market. This northern Colorado area feeds about
27
of 1l the lambsmarketed in the United States. The manufrcture of beet sugar require s 13 large factories within this area, There are many canning factories, creameries, elev tors, flour mills and other processors of agricultural products. Within and immediately adjacent thereto is found other
industrial activities such as the manufacture of cement and plaster. Mining is active in the recovery of coal, and lime rock for the sugar factories. Oil fields with producing wells are within this area. The
transportation facilities are adequate and served by both the Union Pacific and Burlington-Colorado Southern railroads. Concrete paved highways and oiled surface roads link the various cities, towns and villages of this large community. Three state institutions of higher learning are within and adjacent to this area.
WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE FOR TWTIAOUNTAIN DIVER There would be little point
toagli
if there did not exist, a few miles west of this Northern Colorado area, an ample supply
chci of supplemental water which can be made economically available and is now flowing out of Ctolora494144sed. The Colorado River _Compact IMV41141*-thestrr,)ly the four upper basin statee,may take up to 7,500.000 acre feet for upper basin consumptive use. It is proposed to divert 750,000 acre—feet annually of this total without jeopardising or impairing existing rights to Colorado River water.
Ath that diverted by inlet canals from Allow Creek and the Fraser River. The )eriod of record covering the years 1905 to 1935 inclusive. The basic data being the published records of the U. S. Geological Survey, State Engineer of Colorado and incidental unpublished data relative to stream flow in this area as submitted by these agencies.
The discharge records o Colorado at Hot Sulphur Springs is complete ove this period of yrs exct for the int val
to m This recd makin rminat on of the normal ercentage of each year cords of discharge on t Colorado and aser riv s were compare. with th Hot Sulphur Springs sta on s a direct means o comput.ig the approxima run-off from these p st am drainage areas. Th: 'ethod assumes that t e
perce ,age of normal a hown at Hot sulphur Spri s is that prevail-on the several tributaries stream from this p
xmw ele412' Itew itetrly,X162 A Te$1471, 4,011m1 01014 17o.fo:) 10..440 a 70,901 ev .t.hilloppo tj . u4ow CAA v‘3/4
WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE FORITRANSMOUNTAIN PIVERSI,g/4
A study has been made of the water resources of the upper drainage area of the Colorado River to determine the annual supply available to the Granby Reservoir. This investigation includes the supply furnished directly by the Colorado into the reservoir together with that diverted by inlet canals from -Allow Creek and the Fraser River. The 2eriod of record covering the years 1905 to 1935 inclusive. The basic data being the published records of the U. S. Geological Survey, State Engineer of Colorado and incidental unpublished data relative to stream flow in this area as submitted by these agencies.
The discharge records of e Colorado at Hot Sulphur Springs is complete ovo this period of y
to This recbrd makin ercentage of each year
• •
rs eXC t for the int val
possible the det rminat on of the normal r this station. Other
on t Colorado and r aser riv Springs eta on
s were compare s a direct means o comput
cords of discharge with th Hot Sulphur g the approxima run-off from these p s am drainage areas. Th ethod assumes that t.e
perce sage of normal hown at Hot ulphur Spri s is that prevail-on the several tributaries istream from this
+1!melmrhe mean annual discharge for the following - stations has been determined:
Hot Sulphur Springs Colorado at Granby Fraser at Granby
Diversion through Moffat ;4ater Tunnel
Colorado River near Grand Lake Grand Lake Outlet
Willow Creek(April to Oct. inc.)
522,000 acre-feet 230,000 If tt 157,400 S 1.2-00 0*.000 94,200 81,700 56,500
The discharge of J'llow Creek being taken as 75 percent of the difference in flow between the fl at Hot Sulphur Spri gs and the combined flow of the Colorado and Frase at their respe tive stations near Granby. Between Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs here are other tributaries in addition to Willow Creek and the on fourth reduction in this difference approximates the correction when ue c sideration is given to drainage area, -ltitude, exposure and her factor. The 56,500 acre-feet is for the months when it is sumed that the war from this stream can be diverted through the/inlet canal to the resrvo • For. the winter months, November to Varch, the stream flow of about 7 0 acre-feet is passed on to the 41orado River.
The diversion of water through the Moffat 'Atter Tun el for the city of Denver, from the Fraser watershed, has been determined t be 84,900 acre-feet annually. In arriving at the probable available supp
The potential water supply for this projeci is to be derived from three sources; namely, Colorado River, Fraser River and
f
tom tVies.e 6ou rCe4Willow Creek. The contribution supply being about 71, 16 and 13 percent
A
respectively. That portion of the supply derived from the Colorado is impounded directly in Granby Reservoir whereas for the Fraser and Willow the water is delivered to Granby Reservoir through inlet canals which can be operated from April to November. For th!kperiod, 1906 to 1935 inclusive, this supply, net to Granby Reservoir, would havelei
averageri annual accumulation of 372,500 acre-feet. For seven different years of this period the annual collection of water would have been more than•
6\1" t4- 04.6 4)`67 6 ait-"••4, 500,000 acre-feet
Afor the drc-ugh year of 1934. These figures have accounted for the present and future irrigation needs in the Fraser River willey as well as for lands along the Colorado River down str -:am to Hot Sulphur Springs; also deductions have been made to meetthe increased diversions arising from the new extension of the Grand River Ditch recently constructed (1936). Corrections have been made for loss of water in transit through the Allow and Ranch Creek Reservoir inlet
4ti*
canals to Granby Reservoir as well as allowance for evaporation from the Ranch Creek Reservoir. From the above stated annual net supply to Granby Reservoir a further deduction has been made to account for the evaporation losses from this reservoir and Shadow Mountain Lake. This correction as an average annual loss for the 31 year is 6,500 acre-feet.
Operation of ;later Supply on Western Slob
The regulation of the supply available for tunnel diversion will be governed largely by direct information as to the potential runs-off determined by snow surveys made over the drainage area. These data will dictate as to the rate of pumping from Granby Reservoir in creating sufficient storage space to accommodate the spring floods directed into this basin. It is possible to perfect the technic of snow surveying such that the results will be dependable in providing the right amount of storage space, minimum pumping head and minimum waste, as spill from the reservoir.
The rate of flaw through the tunnel will be variable, however, continuous throughout the year. As a maximum the discharge may reach 750 second-feet at such time when a heavy demand for water is required on the east slope. A minimum of 350 second-feet during June when the Big Thompson River would be at flood stage.
The regulation of tunnel diversion may be such as to provide ample supply from the inflow to Shadow Mountain and Grand lakes and thus require no pumping from Granby Reservoir. On the supposition that
\'1
this project had been in operation over the period 1905 to 1935 inclusive, it is found that no pumping 4,.Duld be required during the month of June: for 16 years of this period pumping would have been necessary during only 10 months of the year, while for the years '26,
0.)Ohb
'28 and '29 no pumping required during Fay, June and July. Over this A
period of years, on an annual basis, it is found that 70 percent of the total water diverted throurt the tunnel was pumped from Granby
Reservoir into Shadow Mountain Lake. This amount of pumping on the average, each year, consumed 47,429,000 k.w.h. of electrical energy which is 22.8 percent of the average yearly output of 209,190,000 k.w.h. generated at the Estes Park hydroelectric plant. The surplus plower generated in excess of the pumping needs and other uses in the
Luoult
Grand Lake area velsimpl* on the average amount annually to about C2.44
161,761,000 k.w.h. k.w.h. AMMO, availableAfor comercial purposes in this northern Colorado area. This power plant at iAtes Park, which is a
necessary part of the present plan of the project, is capable of deliver -ing 22,250 firm horse-power when operat-ing under a head of 700 feet. It
is possible to aevelop three other hydroelectric power plants at
favorable locations in the Thompson River Canon and in addition to -.iihaks a planWocated at the Green Mountain Reservoir. It is estimated that these five power plants in the aggregate would furnish -bout 150,000 firm horse power sufficient to meet the needs of northern Colorado for many years to come. The three plants below Estes Park are not considered at this time as a part of the immediate project plan.
ALLOCATION OF THI 31JPPLEMENTAL
sipra lys
The allocation of this supply to the six water districts, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 64 to be such as to provide for he relief of canals and ditches having junior water rights. For the basis of allocation the year 1926 has been taken as one of sufficient supply and comparison is made 1934 the one of extreme shortage. For these sixv
f districts the total supplies for 1926 and 1934 differed by 869,000
acre-feet. The comparison, 1926 to the eleven year average (1925 to 1935), shows a difference of 400,000 acre-feet. The supplemental supply delivered through the tunnel to relieve this situation varies from year to year
f?;71 , and for the period 1905 to 1935 this mean figure is 368,230 acre-feet.
. 4.k, ‘4, /'
lb
Certain losses occur in the
running
of this suoply in can. ls andriver channels as well as evaporation loss when held in storage. This combined loss will be at least 10 percent of the total mean supply or
2. 0 p-414-61
a final net of 331,400 acre-feet. As a conservtive figureW acre-feet is taken as the basis for allocating the supply to the various districts. Return flow seepage accruing from this new water
uvrOLA 61
"
e61
1;
4
1
Crl*-4)
supply is estimated to approximate
A
about -t0 percent or f acre-feet. At the end of 5 years of applying this new water supply the amount then
4
4/
4
i_obe' ;
-*P.)
available as a total, should be about 1.46,94eiracre-feet ',o meet the demand now recognized as a shortage. However, this will not be a sufficient amount to fulfill all the needs, especially for such years of extreme deficiency as experiences in 1934. The following table shows this llocation.
Water Dist.
Apportionment Probably supply
on 5th year 400,e(315 ,,c.ft. jr420/01An 1 7-491-8.00 2
1,375-Ele
ft.446.0 48'7M I 3841
-70&Deco
-W474.5.9 i 1 2 "777-1-15 4 411-110 + y 4, 4.41-wy00 ' 5 v-4.--411114 5 2474403
0
i ero
ailti7t,
e-4 1 -2. 64 -5Cav.a4Q / 3.0,1) OD -5170,170(3' ' `43.2.74444.
/ /
00 f j"t4 tito, it.40,..c.kai, v."4,760%
etrat** DISTRIBUTION OF WATER FROY CART3R, AIKINS
)HORSETOOTH ,•\
-RE3P,VOIRS AND TUNNEL SUPPLY DIRECT
For the period of years 1906 to 1935, inclusive, there was delivered to the several water districts an average annual amount of
-0-NA0/, ii
336,140 acre-feet and each district receiving the following average "
,
amount; 1,86,970; 2r-16,780; 37-90,550; 4;-40,710; 5r-37,430 and
t'S 64 -63,700 acre fe,,t. About 5000 acre-feet for the Little Thompson is
here included the water delivered from Carter Lake to district 5. The maximum amount delivered was 450,000 acre-feet in 1907 and a minimum of 280,000 acre-feet in 1929, '31, '32, '34 and '35.
The assumed schedule of distribution is as follows: April 5%,
45.
0 .1** ‘ A,- -V-41 ' ' vitt 074' VK" ?A.A CW"ii4T
-l ,Yay 15%, June (4 July 35X% August 30% and Septemer le, Under normal 014 4,,A,
conditions the June run-offwillbe sufficient to meet the irrigation needs and no project water would be required.
f)firz
Shortage of Irrigation Water
Analysis of the use of water in the six water
districts,
embracing this area, indicates the following
percent-age of shortpercent-age of needed supply where the percentpercent-ages are
)2L
based on the assumption that the water supply for -WM"
filled
all demands 100 per cent.
Water
Districts
Area
Irrigated
11-year
(1925-1935)
Mean S1ortage
Low Year
1934
Shortage
Acres
1-per cent
Per cent
1
92,
394
28.9
49.8
2
37,899,
7.6/
28.3
3
213640/
23.8'7
48.0
4
68,408,
27.0"
54.9
5
81,806Y
10.8/
30.1v
64
12y89 v
21.9v
31.8'
615,436,
23.3
43.4
-demand.
Base year
A b
2
0-041
1926,
.t;PTI! acre-feet or 100 per cett
/ 233
Low year
year 1934,
acre-feet or 56.6
41 of demand
1
)
5-3
5'
ct-cigt
PLI"P
WOMPIgq acre-feet,or 76.-
qc
of demand
kl year average
As an average of the entire supply during the
11 year period it is found that
Direct flow or river diversions supplied 77.8
Reservoirs or storage diversions supplied 22.2
561A c
The
, supply is s tated as follows:
Base y(,ar 1926 - No shortage
Low year 1934 - 43.4 per cent shortage
year average -23.3 per cent shortage
ElCveo
Actual shortage over the season, as it evident here,
does not give a true picture of the seriousness of deficiency.
Row crops such as sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables, seed
crops, and corn which are the high value crops
about 1/4 the entire area, may not show a profitable return
unless the irrigation supply -is ample at such critical periods
'I TIA 4-411T-4when watering is essential. This project when constructed
and operated, as planned, will go far to meet the total
yearly deficiency but most important of all it will provide
. with great assurance ample supply for the timely irrigation
S
f these more profitable crops during the critical period
July and August. Under conditions now prevailing the
supply available at this crucial period is not generally
Ala4c,c0
tA4
sufficient and losses aawkamisidiellin=
Cases are numeraus
•
A
where a single irrigation applied to sugar beets or potatoes
at the proper time in August has measured the difference in
financial return between no-profit and normal return. Analysis
shows that consistantly higher yields of sugar beets, potatoes,
having storage supplies available tb support the later summer
demand.
The p ersistant deficiency of water supply over the
past
y
ten years has brought forth an extensive development
of pump irrigation from wells as a means of, providing an
additional water supply. Throughout this project area there
has been reported no fewer than 568 wells
representing an
in-vestment of three quarters of a million dollars. It is
con-servatively estimated that this underground source of water
supply yields annually at least 85,000 acre-feet of water
on
used/about 57,000 acres of land. About 11 per cent of this
acreage depends entirely upon pumped water while 89 per cent
utilizes this source supplemental to ditch and reservoir
supplies. The cost of this pumped water is approximated at
$3.00 per acre-foot.
Pumping is not a cure. rihe constant draft on the
under flow has, it is believed, been largely responsible for
the depletion of the return flow in the South Platte River
valley in water districts 1 and 64. Should drouth conditions
gLeAt, A
"64-/ 47"th1
The deficiency of water supply for irrigation has been growing more acute the past 10 years. The shortage in supply in 1934 when
compared to 1926, a year of sufficiency, it is found that tis
difference isrmame=tilen double the total direct and return flaw Amlikie anticipated through the project. This deficiency in water supply for the period of 1925-1934 inclusive reflected a direct economic loss in crop production of approximately $42,355,000, and of this amount the sugar beet crop is accountable for a total of about $17,000,000. The following shows the approximate annual loss in value of crops because of inadequate water supply.
Sugar beets $1,900,000 Alfalfa 948,000 Small grain 470,000 Beans 302,)00 Corn 2-8,000 Potatoes 425,000
All other crops 444,000 $4,700,000
-Jhen considering the additional or indirect losses suffered by business of all kinds it is conservative to estimate that the total average loss in values of all kinds due to insufficient irrigation supply approximates $10,000,000.
ao 3ia oftilida.
.„-Irritgaticilfttranry
The actual loss in crop production values suffered
over this project areaand due primarily to the shortage of
/1/1h0
water
)
amounted during bile ten year period-411eagn2,VMJ, to
00 218,000. This figure was determined on
the base of each year's yelld and average market price of the
different crops as compared with yields and prices for the
t
al7year 1926.
Eliminating price variation for the different
commodities as between the different years, and using
Lhe average ten-year price for each crop with each year's
actual acreage and yield; the economic loss apportioned in
round numbers to the different crops, amounted for the entire
10-year period to approximately the following:
Sugar beets
$17,001,000
Alfalfa
80 531,000
Small Erain
4,232,000
Potatoes
30 823,000
Beans
2,721,000
Corn
2,053,000
All other crops
3,994,000
Total loss for the 10 year period
i'pe12,355,000
or an average annual loss of
S4,700,000.
Note: The difference of about 0,100,000 between the above
estimated 10 year period losses, results from eliminating
all possible variable factors except yield, and attributing
the variance in yield entirely to insufficient water supply.
a
This
2,3550000 loss is believed to be/justifiable base
for drawing conclusions.
The average annual loss in crop v alues o
A,700,000
approximates a bout 20 percent of the estimated cost of—the
project.
The loss in value of crops in 1934, year of lowest
irrigation supply,when comparedwith the favorable year of 1926
is given as follows:
Per
acre
Crops
1926
1934
Sugar Beets
0.27.41
02.78
Alfalfa
23.39
17.55
Small grains
40,85
27.80
Potatoes
193.70
47.22
Beans
51.64
20.52
Corn
51.00
20.18
Other Crops
70.20
56.00
Totals
Difference
Total u-ross
1926
,i0_7,299,134
5,215,918
7,380,369
3,846.505
1,918.942
2,119,050
2,948,400
Values
1934
$7,867,800
2,584,800
5,357,616
1,473,122
865,477
1,144,004
2,355,000
6
40,728,318
4
'211 647,819
.5.19,0W,000
Ratio of water supply 1934 to 1926
56.6
Ratio of crop values 1934 to 1936
53.2
Gross crop value per irrigated acre
ft It fir ?I1934
1926
35.00
$66.00
I.
Accounting for variations in price and acreage
factors, the shortage of water in 1934 is responsible for a
loss of about 57.3 per cent of the total gross production
wilue for 1934 or approximately 02,400,000.
The economic loss in sugar beet production values
resulting from the shortage of irrigation supply for the
ck,c,eleven years 1925 to 1935 is
Tons per Acre Actual
Year
Average Loss in
Value
Yield
Yield
Per Ton
Loss per
Total
Acre
Loss
Tons
Tons
Dollars
Dollars
Dollars
1925
13.43
1.56
5.50
10.95
781,884
1926
14.99
0.00
8.50
0.00
000,000
1927
13.35
1.64
8.50
11.51
1,692,442
1928
13.87
1.12
7.50
7.64
875,191
1929
12.78
2.21
7.50
15,52
20 014,682
1930
14.27
0.72
7.50
5.05
759,555
1931
12.21
2.78
6.00
19.51
2,741,409
1932
11.61
3.38
5.13
23.73
2,372,146
1933
13.10
1.89
5.42
13.27
1,666,334
1934
9.59
5.40
7.59
37.91
4
)
097,768
17,001,411
1935
13.59
1.40
7.05
9.83
1,221,928
Mean
12.99
2.21
7.02
15.50
Total for 11 years
18,223,339
This table shows for 1934 that the water shortage
resulted in a loss of 07.91 per acre. This particular year
deficient in water supply,..imaftieste
vY0-°
,
dtArt,
i-OW!, and on the average over the six water districts
A by1.41%Ate chrry
)
acre-feet
be directly proportional to the loss in c rop value the
conclusion is drawn that this amount of water applied at
$1.50 per acre-foot, or a cost of 2.3.2.1 would have beturned
to the farmer $37.91 in added gross value per acre of beets
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF THE AREA
The following summary of crop production for the period 1925-1934 inclusive shows the range in crop yields, percentage of crop acreage and mean gross value in dollars per acre.
Kind of Crop
A
v
crag.
(1)
Po*le-ef Total Total Crop Gross High Range Acreage Value (3) (4) Alfalfaper
rac.
2.38 t.
(2)
rt-r
Ae-rere-rce4t percent
4 to 5 t. 30.87 (4heat 27.3 bu. 40 to 65 bu.
(Barley (Oats 39.8 42.0 11 tt 50 to 75 " 65 to 90 " +All Grains 35.98 Sugar Beets 12.99 t. 15 to 20 t. Potatoes 137 bu. 250 to 400 bu. Cprn (Silage)8.5 t. 12 to 20 t. Dry Beans 1040 lb. 1400 to 2000 lb. +Vegetable Crops
Seeds Fruits
All other crops
10.30 11.50 3.80 25.60 20.00 4.16 8.04 4.52 2.37 .84 .68 2.92 Total percent and Mean Gross Value 100.00'/,
MEAN Gross Value pe0E-Aere (5) v-•eiCre, 14.84 .4)22.65 7.10 ,p 31.86) 6.90 28.54) 2.09 26.70)
1770
38.69 $ 91.22 9.13 103.50 7.25 42.50 4.58 47.80 5.14 102.20 1.32 74.00 1.62 112.00 1.34 20.00 100.00% 3 47.15 + All small grains - (average according to acreage and yield)+ Vegetables include all home and market garden crops and all crops grown for canning ¶nd manufacture.
? These yields cannot be given because of the many different kinds of crops grown. Jiith a dependable water supply, production is uniformly high and an increase in acreage is occurring in many of these crops. However, in the production of vegetables, some seeds and fruits, the Present irrigation supply is supplemented in many cases by the use of underground pump water.
q
kVegetable and potato crops produce the greatest gross value per acre. Sugar beets which take up on th- average 20 p,rcent of the total acreage, shows a gross value of $91.22 per acre. Average for all crops being
$47.15. To this should be added crop values marketed through livestock shown to be $2.75, or a total average production value of :;i149.90 per acre.
On the avctrage Colorado feed-lot fattens about
0
of all sheep and 1/10 of all cattle in the United States and within this project area is centered about 75 percent of all sheep and 86 p .rcent of allcattle feeding in the state. The mean annual gross livestock production for this area is approximated to be •$24,000,000. The dairy industry for this 10 year period produced about $330 per farm or approximately
1)2,084,200 for the area - this figure is believed to be less than the actual gross value produced. The poultry industry adds an average annual production value of about ,$300 per farm or approximately $1,930,000 for the area.
During this 10 year period about 3,500,000 additional, to 6ritt44
LC
crops raised on the farms, was annually 10 this area for the purchase of food-stuffs for livestock consumption.
Total adjusted mean market value of crop production,annual gross of the project area is "
Total adjusted value with item value of crop marketed through livestock considered for the project area is
Total gross production value including direct and indirect values, horse work and manure added for the project ares is
.;,29,000,000
'.$30,709,000 vi
EXTENT1OD IMPORTANCE OF PROJECT AREA
This project area of 615,000 acres, comprising 6500 individual farms, when compared with the entire state of Colorado approximates:
20.38 percent of all irrigated farms 18.12 percent of the total irrigated area
33.00 percent of the total investment in irrigated enterprises
16.60 percent of the total assessed valuation including Denver.
Almost one-fourth of the total population of the state, outside of the City of Denver, which has about 26.6 percent of the state's total, resides within this project area that will be served
Economic Importance of Area
Compared with Colorado as a whole, this region,
over a period of years, approximates the following:
Produces about 1/3 of total farm crop values
Possesses more than 1/5
(1/8
-(1/4
Produces to exceed:(1/8
(1/7
Possess:-of all livestock values
manufacturing values. _
" Denver excluded
minef4a1 producti8n
retail sales
II ftDenver excluded
(14.6 per cent of total
-,, (22.4
ft ft ft If(008 per capita of total
( spendable income
(580 per capita is the average
spendable
ftinc
ome
" Denver
excluded
for U.S.
Of all persons gainfully employed
( Agriculture 15.7
in Colorado, this area employs in
( Manufacture
2.4
( Mining
1.1
per cent
"
Average density of population ( Project area 17.8 persons
per square mile
( Colorado
10.0
"
1/V1 GLI
It ft
444
