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~~ In Scope of Study ":j4 ('-J The water supply studies were made to determine the usefulness of (..... various reservoirs and reservcir combinations in alleviating the annual c.J water shortages and the flood dam3.ges now suffered by the lands wi thin the Conejos Water Conservancy District. They were also made ~or use in deter- mining the most economical storage capacity that could be developed for flood control and irri~ation. The obligations placed upon thc Conejos River Basin by the Rio Graride Compact, and the present-day construction costs, make it impractical to provide sufficient storage capacity for a perfect water supply to the district. WATER SUPPLY Period of Study The water supply studies were made for the period of record at the Mogote gaging station on the Conejos River, i.e., 1903 to date. Incomplete records at other key stations in the basin were extended to inclUde the period of study. Hydrologic Data Stream discharge data were obtained from publications of the Geological Survey and the state Engineer of Colorado. Di~ch~rge data were extended by computation on a direct relationship basiB, or by computing with the prob- ability method from the basic d~ta published in Vol. I, Part VI, Regional Planning, The Rio Grande Joint Investigations in the Upper Rio Grande Basin, National Resources Committee, 1938. Dr frnm the publications menti~ned above. The extended reccrds were rechecked where it Was deemed ar.v12able to. do se. The principal source of rainfall, precipitation, temper~ture and relatGd records was frcm the Climatological Data PUblications of the Weather Bur8au. Other sources such as the Annual Reports. of the Rio Grande Compact Commission were also utilized. Water Rights In Water District No. 22, almost 200 water rights have been adjudicated f)r Use of water from the Conejos River and its principal tributary, the San Antonio River. The earliest right dates back to 1855. The rights, up to and including November 22, 1926, have total appropriations of 5,826 cubic feet per second, many of which can be supplied only when the streams are lL flood stage. The enjoyment of these rights has be9n protected by ratific,> tion of the Rio Grande Compact. The Compact does, however, place a limit2-. tion upon the amount of water. that can be consumed in the Conejos River Basin, which, in turn, when neglecting economic considerations, limits ths practical storage capacity that can be developed for the benefit of irrigation. These water rights while appurtenant to the land~ within the severa:' mutual companies and associations comprised within the Conejos Conservancy District, under Colorado law may be transferred by conveyance the same , n