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The Amity Mutual Irrigation Company 1461 President's Report To The Amity Mutual Irrigation Company TO TIlE DffiECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS: An exceptionally dry winter through Dec., Jan., and Feb. left our soil in poor physical condition and this was nat entirely overcome by the March snow and rain. Where early water was not used to pre -irrigate some difficult)' was experienced in obtaini.ng satisfactor:; stands. 1n scme in- stances replanting was necessary. John Martin storage furnished the early water but by the time the 54,000 a.f. of winter storage was ex- hausted, snow water was plentiful in the river. Water was available through- out the season most~ from the river, but sometimes supplemented by runs from the Great Plains Reservoirs. 1970 will be remembered by irrigators because the Arkansas River supplied plentiful supply of water and without severe flooding. No water was stored in John Martin between Ma.}' 27, when storage was exhausted, and Oct. 8th, late in the season. During the summer from April 1 to and Oct. 31, upstream ditches in Districts 14 and 17 diverted almost 700,000 a.Co of water (rom the Arkansas. This with their winter diversion made a total of 933,236 a.f. up stream. Irrigators in District #67 below John Martin diverted 180,380 a.Co but 20,814. a.f. or this was in storage on November 1, 1969, making about 160,000 a.f. supplied by the river this water year. Add this to upstream diversions the Arkansas river supplied almost 1,100,000 a. f. for Colorado irrigators and 140,300 a.f. crossed the state line for Kansas. Of the inflow in and Ulrough John Martin this .}'ear onl,y 34.,080 a. f. came from the Purgatoire and 123,800 a. f. from the Arkansas, making a total of 157,900 a. f. past Las Animas. Our Superintendent will give a detailed report on the operation of the Amit,r system and the distribution of our water. He will also present recommendations for improvements in the system. Maintenance of the canal is a continious process, and improvements are made when ever possible, to keep the canal in the best possible condition for deliver,}' of water. Records of water flows this year prove that there are substantial accretions to the river in the John Martin reservoir area not measured as inflow. This flow is important to the ditches down stream from John Martin, especially when the reservoir is empt,y, and diversions are on a priority basis. This year these accretions amounted to more than 20,000 a.f. Because cL the changes in water laws and the integration of surlace and ground water together with the urgent demand for water to suppl.}' urban populations, administration of the river becomes much more complex. Some of the items that may affect our supply are merely mentioned here but detailed studies will have to be made before long, It is the poliCY of the State to integrate the appropriation, and use of underground water tributary to the stream, with the surface water,in such a way as to make maximum beneficial use. Page 3