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<br />3.2.2.4 Soldier's Draw Reservoir Development and Operation <br /> <br />A part of the WMCP purpose was to examine the possibility of establishing a storage facility <br />higher in the La Plata River system (Figure 10). Soldier's Draw was examined for that purpose, <br />but ranked low compared to the other water management options of Red Mesa Ward Reservoir <br />expansion and Long Hollow Reservoir development for several reasons. <br /> <br />Because this option would draw its water from the Animas River (Lightner Creek Drainage) and <br />is very high in the La Plata River system, it would not have any significant negative impact to the <br />MA wetland/riparian zone. Monitoring would still occur should this project proceed. <br /> <br />3.2.2.5 Changes in Points of Diversion on the La Plata River <br /> <br />The possibility of moving points of diversion of senior water rights to upstream diversions could <br />affect flow through the MA during the irrigation season. Changes in points of diversion require a <br />water court action to protect other water rights on the stream, but there is still the potential to <br />affect the amount of flow through the MA and thus the wetland/riparian habitat values of the <br />MA. <br /> <br />The La Plata River and Red Mesa Ward Reservoir are the primary sources of water for three <br />ditches (Joseph Freed, Revival and Warren Vosberg Ditches) immediately upstream of the MA. <br />(Figure 9.) In the summer low flow period the ditches below these three, in and below the MA, <br />divert the return flows of these upper ditches and flows from Long Hollow. <br /> <br />The water rights associated with the mitigation property (see Appendix E) allow Reclamation to <br />protest in water court actions which may negatively affect these water rights. An action that <br />could affect the water rights is also likely to affect the mitigation program wetland/riparian area. <br />The water rights of the Huntington property are mid-range to low priority rights, but high priority <br />rights exist both upstream and downstream of the MA. <br /> <br />Due to the fact that a majority of the high priority water right on the La Plata River in Colorado <br />are located above the MA and the difficulty of administration of the La Plata River Compact, <br />significant changes to flows through the MA from a change in point of diversion are unlikely. <br /> <br />3.2.2.5.1 Impact to Return Flows in the MA from Changes in Point of Diversion <br /> <br />Senior water users downstream of the MA depend upon the flows coming through the MA. <br />Under Colorado water law, upstream movement of senior water rights on the La Plata River <br />cannot injure other water rights holders by requiring a portion of the historic right to remain in <br />the river as a substitute for return flows to protect downstream users. <br /> <br />Changes to return flow volumes are not expected to occur in the MA as a result of change in <br /> <br />-30- <br />