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Agricultural Water Use: Irrigated Acreage

 
 

Estimation of basin irrigated acreage involved combining county-based National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) crop statistics with geographically-based project Geographic Information System (GIS) data. The basin plan Geographic Information System (GIS) map contains solid green areas that represent irrigated acreage in Wyoming’s Platte River Basin. Above Pathfinder subbasin irrigated acreage shown in the basin plan GIS was mapped by the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office (SEO) during the 1999 irrigation season for compliance with the 1945 North Platte Decree. It is important to note that quantities of irrigated acreage used during basin plan consumptive use calculations were those derived from the project GIS specifically for the basin plan.

Since National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cropping data is organized on the basis of political boundaries and basin plan consumptive use calculations were completed on the basis of subbasin boundaries, correlation of NASS cropping data and project geographical information system (GIS) irrigated acreage data was required.

Click here to view a table that combines National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) county-based cropping data with the Geographical Information System (GIS) derived geographically-based irrigated acreages. The table includes calculations of average irrigated, harvested acres for each crop in each county of the Above Pathfinder subbasin as the product of the percent of each county that is cultivated in each of the crops under consideration and the GIS-derived irrigated acreages for each county in the subbasin. The sum of irrigated, harvested acreages in the right-hand column of the table provides estimated average irrigated, harvested acreages for each crop in the Above Pathfinder subbasin of the Platte River Basin for the period 1972 through 2001.

Below is a map representing the irrigated acres within the Above Pathfinder subbasin. Click here to enlarge the map image, view a map legend, and to print the map.

 
 


The Platte River Basin Plan is a planning tool developed for the Wyoming Water Development Office. It presents estimated current and estimated future uses of water in WyomingÆs Platte River Basin. The Plan is not used to determine compliance with or administration of state law, federal law, court decrees, interstate compacts, or interstate agreements.
Wyoming Water Development Commission
6920 Yellowtail Road
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Ph. (307) 777-7626
Fax (307) 777-6819