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Show irrigation season. Project activities since that time have been directed toward maintaining canals and making repairs to insure continued delivery of irrigation water to crop lands. The land subsidence appears to be at an end. Bureau of Reclamation's current construction program is directed toward restoration of canal capacity, replacement of structures, channel protection, and lining of canals to reduce seepage losses. The water table has risen sufficiently in several areas to indicate a definite need for drainage. Government forces performed a limited amount of drainage during 1966. It is planned that future drainage construction will be performed by construction contract. The project will provide irrigation water for 3,933 acres, of which approximately 2,290 acres are now irrigated. Project lands are divided into 62 farms of which 23 are full-time farming enterprises and 39 are operated on a part-time basis. b. Navajo Indian Irrigation Project The Navajo Indian Irrigation Project was authorized by the Congress for construction by enactment of P. L. 87-483, approved by the President on June 13, 1962. It is located in northwestern New Mexico along the south side of the San Juan River in the Farmington-Shiprock area. When completed the project will irrigate 110,630 acres of new land on the present and extended Navajo Indian Reservation. Although this project is directly dependent upon the already constructed Navajo Dam and reservoir, the Colorado River Storage Project Act stipulates that irrigation costs that will be beyond the capability of the Indian irrigators to repay shall be nonreimbursable, and irrigation costs that are within the capability of the lands to repay shall be deferred so long as the lands remain in Indian ownership. Advance Planning In February 1966, Secretary Udall requested that a committee under leadership of the Bureau of Reclamation be formed to make further studies of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. A task force comprised of representatives of the Bureaus of Reclamation and Indian Affairs and the New Mexico State Engineer's office was formed to make these studies. The object of the studies was to develop a plan to optimize the net benefits to the indians from water allotted to the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. The studies are not intended in any way to affect the Tribe's entitlement to the water nor the construction of those facilities that would be necessary for delivery. A report summarizing the studies was completed in July 1966 and has been forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior. 115 |