AGRICULTURE IN BLYTHE AND THE PALO VERDE VALLEY

The Palo Verde Irrigation District's Diversion Dam

When you enter the Palo Verde Valley from any direction, after traveling over a hundred miles through stark, barren, dry desert, there is one overwhelming impression. Everything here is green. How can that happen in this arid desert with less than 3.5 inches of rain each year? The explanation lies with three facts. First, the northern limits of the Palo Verde Valley has a substantially higher elevation than the southern. Second, the Colorado River flows from north to south, and finally third, there is a small diversion dam about fifteen miles upriver from Blythe.

C Canal-One Of Our Lifegiving Arteries

The Palo Verde Irrigation District's Diversion Dam allows Colorado River water to enter the valley's massive canal system. That water creates the green fields that impress all who visit our valley. It supplies water to the City Of Blythe, and allows life to exist here. After irrigating fields, supplying water to the city, local industries, and for many other purposes, the water reenters the river at the southern limits of the Palo Verde Valley. Without the river and canal system here, all life would wither and die.

Green Fields And The Canal Responsible For Them

	ALFALFA 64,588 SUDAN 2,535 BERMUDA 2,375 WHEAT & BARLEY 6,448 PALM TREES 22 CORN 673 OATS 411 COTTON 11,865 MISCELLANEOUS FIELD CROPS 4,717 CITRUS & ORCHARDS 2,811 MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES 1,267 BROCCOLI 1,802 LETTUCE 1,675 CANTALOUPES 2,571 HONEYDEWS 745 WATERMELONS & MIXED MELONS 1,883 IDLE 1,603 FISH PONDS 72

Agriculture is, by far, our largest industry. Palo Verde Valley farmers grow crops, in Riverside County, with values in excess of $100,000,000 annually. Principal among those crops is hay, row crops, and cotton. Acreage under cultivation is 102,935 in Riverside County. Additional acreage in the southern part of the valley is in Imperial County.

Modern Harvesters At Work

CLICK HERE to view the United States Department Of Agriculture Agricultural Census

Our next page will include miscellaneous information intended to be of use to someone starting or reclocating a business to the Palo Verde Valley, or making a personal relocation to our area. The site navigator, as always, is at the upper left of this screen.