WSP09385

• File Number: 8555.200
• Description: State/Division 3 Water Court Cases - 3-90CW30 Rocky Mountain Bison Inc.
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 8/1/1989
• Author: Bishop Brogden Assoc
• Title: Zapata Ranch and Great Sand Dunes Country Club Water Supply And Augmentation Plan Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The records indicate that water has been taken throughout the entire

irrigati"lI""season, which at its maximum extended from April 21 to

October n.' Almost always the irrigation season extended into September

and October. According to Mr. Stewart. he started diverting water through

the ditches to his lands as early as possible and began cutting hay near

the middle to the end of July; following cutting. Mr. Stewart again

diverted water onto the same lands and irrigated until the very end of the

season. Mr. Stewart either cut his hay or allowed his cattle to graze on

the lands. depending on the acreage and his need in a given year.

In 1975, Malcolm Stewart received Water Court approval for an augmentation

p Ian for a proposed subdivis ion. us ing water from South Zapata Creek and

from wells in the unconfined aquifer. The decree in Case W-3345 is

included in Appendix A. Although Mr. Stewart's water rights on the Zapata

and Uracca Creek systems are tabulated in the decree. it al10wed continued

use of those rights for irrigation.

In 1979. Mr. Stewart, conveyed Phase I of the development proposed in
W-3345. including rights in the Shady Retreat Ditch. the Supply No. 4
Ditch. and the Zapata Ditch No.3. to John Howell. He reserved all water
in excess of the amount required to supply the needs of the subdivision.
The decree in Case No. 80CW132 (Appendix B) states that 90 acre-feet of
water will be needed at ful1 develc;pment to replace depletions created by
wells in the Zapata subdivision. A 1983 stipulation provides that an
additional 16.8 acre-feet v111 be needed to offset evaporation losses from
two reservoirs in the subdivision. The 106.8 acre-feet are to be
delivered from the ditches that divert from South Zapata Creek. All
relllaittitt'l-"ftm""r'ltllts from South Zapata Creek in excess of the
deve1'll,J.___ _'ltt~~'fi"'jl'1.e available to the Zapata Ranch for irrigation,
under the ter1ll8 of Case Nos. W-3345 and 80CW132.

The potential irrigation water consumptive use rate for native hay based
on the modified Blaney-Criddle method and on climate data collected by
NOAA at the Sand Dunes National Monument. averaged 1.25 feet for a 32-year
period extending from 1951 through 1984. The rates range from a low of
10.1 inches in 1965 to a high of 18.7 inches in 1958. The average

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