WSP11269

• File Number: 8142.100
• Description: Trinidad Project - Studies - Operation Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1996
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Trinidad Background Info Notebook Part 5
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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V. CONCLUSIONS

A. The transfer of water from the model storage right to the joint-use
pool is a departure from the intent of the Operating Principles.

B. The storage of winter water under the direct flow rights is also a
departure from the intent of the Operating Principles.

C. The transfer of water from the Model Right and the storage of winter
water under the direct flow rights during the 1979-84 review period has
depleted the usable inflow to John Martin Reservoir when compared to the
i nf 1 ow that wou 1 d have occurred had the Tri ni dad Project been in accordance
with the intent of the Operating Principles.

D. The transfer of water from the Model Right and the storage of winter
water under the direct flow decrees, either singularly or collectively,
wi 11 not cause the future usable inflow to John Martin Reservoir to be less
with Trinidad Project in operation than it would have been without the
Project. These practices will, however, result in less inflow to John
Mart in Reservoi r than wou 1 d occur if the water ri ghts were admi n i stered in
accordance with the intent of the Operating Principles.

E. The Operating Principles provide for less than the optimum beneficial
use of the avai lable water for irrigation within the Trinidad Project area,
but do protect the downstream non-project rights.

F. The total acreage irrigated with project water during any year of the review
period did not exceed the maximum permitted acreage of 19,717 acres.

G. Neither the District nor the State of Colorado have developed adequate pro-
cedures for veri fyi ng that the maxi mum i rri gated acreage will not be exceeded
in the future.

H. Class 6W lands are being irrigated in violation of the provisions of the
Operating Principles. There is no evidence that this violation has any impact
on downstream users. There is no purpose in continuing prohibition on ir-
rigation of Class 6W lands.

I. The maximum irrigated acreage should be reduced by 278 acres to compensate
for water rights that were not acquired by the District.

J. The 1985 headgate diversions exceeded the amount needed to satisfy irriga-
tion requirement used in the 1964 Irrigation Report. The District has not made
an effort to limit the headgate diversions to that necessary to meet the irriga-
tion requirement nor has the District established a suitable procedure for doing
so in the future. Excess diversions reduce the inflow to John Martin Reservoir
and cause additional shortages of irrigation water for use on project lands.
Under some circumstances, excess diversion will cause the inflow to John Martin
Reservoir to be less than would have occurred had the Trinidad Project not been
bui It.

K. The storage of water under the auspices of flood control has not been
recogn i zed as flood storage by the Corps. At 1 east some of th is storage of
flood flows did occur under conditions that without the storage there would have
been potentially damaging rates of flow. The stored flood flows were released

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