OCR Text |
Show The people of the area have taken the initial steps in the organization of a Conservancy District for contracting with the Federal Government. It is planned to have this Conservancy District fully organized by August, 1957 in order to get a tax levy established for the calendar year 1958. Detailed investigations, as needed for a definite plan report, are scheduled to be undertaken in 1957 as soon as work on the Paonia Project will permit. d. Pine River Project Extension This project involves an extension to be made to the existing Pine River Project in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico on Pine River about 20 miles east of Durango, Colorado. This extension will provide water from the existing Vallecito Reservoir for the irrigation of about 15,150 acres of irrigable land, of which about 1,940 acres are within the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project. The project will involve an enlargement and extension of eight major canals and ditches diverting from Pine River, a new diversion dam, and several small distribution laterals. Of the acreage irrigated, 14,520 acres of new land are in Colorado and 630 acres in New Mexico. Completion of the definite plan report is scheduled early in 1959. Initial water supply studies show that the proposed development probably cannot be made unless new lands to be served receive direct flow ahead of storage in Vallecito Reservoir. A clarification of water-rights will be necessary. Detailed land classification surveys and topographic surveys are proceeding. Topography of the project lands should be available soon. e. Silt Project An improved water supply for more than 5,400 acres of partially irrigated land, and a full supply for about 1,900 acres of new land will be provided by construction of the Silt Project between Rifle and Elk Creeks in west-central Colorado. Construction features will include the Rifle Gap Reservoir of 10,000 acre-feet capacity, a pumping plant, diversion dam and feeder canal, rehabilitation of existing works and construction of laterals and drains. Initiation of definite plan investigations on the Silt Project has been scheduled to follow work on the Paonia and Smith Fork |