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Show PART II PRESENT STATUS OF IRRIGATION Table 12 summarizes the drainage measures that have been taken to alleviate drainage problems and the estimated area drained. Table 12 - Drainage measures and area drained-19-65 Drainage measures Estimated Hydrologic Tile Drain Total area Subregion drains ditches drains drained and State (miles) (miles) (miles) (acres) Green River Colorado 4.9 27.1 32.0 3,400 Utah 6.1 70.5 76.6 8,200 Wyoming .6 116.0 116.6 12,400 Subtotal 11.6 213-6 225.2 24J000 Upper Main Stem Colorado 53.2 477.6 530.8 56,600 Utah • 3 • 3 Negl. Subtotal 53-5 477.6 531.1 56*600 San Juan-Colorado Arizona • 3 • 5 .8 100 Colorado .3 16.3 16.6 1,800 New Mexico 3-5 29.5 33.0 3,500 Utah .1 - .1 Negl. Subtotal 4.2 46.3 50.5 5,400 Total 69-3 737-5 806.8 86,000 Source: Miles of Drains from SCS-99 Report (1965). Contribution of Irrigation to Region's Economy!/ Characteristics of irrigated farms Irrigation is the cornerstone of agriculture in the region. The de- pendence of agriculture upon irrigation is indicated by census figures which show that 65 percent of the cropland harvested in 1964 was from irrigated lands. This production takes place on about 891,000 acres, ex- clusive of irrigated pasture and meadow land. According to the U.S. Cen- sus of Agriculture, total irrigated crop and pasture land in farms within the economic boundaries of the region was nearly 1.5 million acres in 1964. As shown in following figure, there has been a slight increase in irrigated land in farms since 1954 in the Green River and Upper Main Stem Subregions while in the San Juan-Colorado Subregion irrigated land in farms declined between 1954 and 1964. Between 1949 and 1954 there was a general decline of irrigated land in farms throughout the region. 1/ Most of this section refers to the Economic Region and Subregions as shown on the frontispiece map. Boundaries of the Economic Region and Subregions follow State and county lines and exclude Arizona. Source of data: U.S. Census of Agriculture. 40 |