| OCR Text |
Show Prior to this time, in l86l, the entire Uinta Basin had " been set aside as an Indian Reservation with very little agricultural development. In 1869 the Indian Agent reported only 110 acres under cultivation. With development, the soils initially responded well under irrigation and produced good yields. Even some of the poorer suited soils responded well the first few years; but soon the shallow and poor positioned soils became limited in their productivity. However, the majority of the lands presently being irrigated in this area are well suited for irrigation and are highly productive when irrigated with an adequate water supply. Lands that would receive Unit water have been classified as arable and they are well suited to the production of climatically adapted crops under sustained irrigation. The area is separated into two locations- the river valley lands and the benchlands of the Taylor Canal subarea. The river valley lands are characterized by long, narrow strips of well- drained, fairly flat lands located on each side of the Duchesne River. The Taylor Canal subarea lands are located on south Myton Bench and in Pleasant Valley. These soils were formed from old alluvial outwash material eroded from the surrounding mountains and foothills. Gravel and cobble underlie much of this area and usually form a blanket over the Uinta shale formation. To determine the chemical characteristics of these soils 8,258 soil tests were conducted on samples taken in the Duchesne River area. The results of these tests helped in determining the arability of these lands. Essentially all of the lands that would receive Unit water are, therefore, low in soluble salts and alkali. Tests indicated that undeveloped lands contain larger amounts of soluble salts and alkali than the presently irrigated lands. ) Expected Future Conditions Without the Unit Without the Bonneville Unit the Indians would be expected to use their water supply under the " Winter's Doctrine" to irrigate Group 5 lands ( Indian lands which are irrigable but presently not irrigated) as well as to supply municipal and industrial requirements in the Uinta Basin. This would lead to additional high irrigation shortages on non- Indian lands. Marginal management practices would continue in some instances, and poor quality lands would continue to contribute to the salinity problems of return flow waters. 161 |
