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<br />13 <br /> <br /> <br />001231 <br /> <br />irrigation water to precipitate within the root zone. <br />Analysis of the water rights on the tributaries downstream from <br />Canon City indicates that these stream systems are grossly over- <br />appropriated and that most of the dependable water supply was appropriated <br />before major irrigation development commenced on the Arkansas River. <br />The major part of the tributary water contribution to the Arkansas River <br />originates from intense rainstorms downstream from areas of present <br />irrigation development. The Purgatoire, Huerfano, and Apishipa Rivers <br />provide the greatest contribution to the Arkansas River. A basin <br />management district need not include the major tributaries below Pueblo <br />because of the limited benefits to these areas. However, water in these <br />tributary basins would be subject to demands of the appropriators along <br />the Arkansas River. <br />Excessive water application is not a serious problem in the Arkansas <br />valley; however, some of the appropriators under canals with senior water <br />rights over-irrigate as well as do the appropriators with junior rights, <br />when water is available. Continuous over-irrigation reduces crop prod- <br />uctivity. A major adverse effect of over-irrigation is the bypass of <br />junior upstream appropriators by the demands of downstream seniors. <br />Ground water adjacent to the main stem of the river supports the <br />flowing stream, and any removal and consumptive use of the water from <br />the aquifer would have a direct effect on the surface flow. Ground water <br />in the Arkansas Valley can probably be best maintained through normal <br />percolation of irrigation water and natural river recharge. <br /> <br />It is not believed that improved water management will increase <br /> <br />the water supply available for diversion. However, improved management <br /> <br /> <br />can make water available at more opportune times during the early spring <br /> <br /> <br />and peak consumptive use demand periods which occur during late summer <br /> <br /> <br />when streamflow is limited. Natural flow can be supp~emented through <br /> <br /> <br />conjunctive use of surface storage and the ground water reservoir. Much <br /> <br /> <br />of this recommended conjunctive use is now practiced within the basin. <br /> <br /> <br />In certain areas it is detrimental to adjudicated water rights, and, <br /> <br /> <br />for this reason, protection under. the Appropriation Doctrine must be <br />