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c.: "" - .. c.:; SAN MIGUEL PROJECT WATER SUPPLY STUDY _. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT SYSTEM OPERATIONS - 1990 IRRIGATION SEASON Introduction This report provides a brief summary of the operations of the Farmers' Water Development Company (Gurley) and the Lone Cone Ditch and Reservoir Company (Cone) during the 1990 irrigation season. The monitoring of operations and issuance of this report was performed by Boyle Engineering Corporation (Boyle) at the request of the Gurley and Cone ditch companies under the sponsorship of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCS). Operations of the 1990 irrigation season were monitored through a visit to the study area over the period June 19- 21 and telephone contacts over the summer. The 1990 irrigation season can be characterized as extremely dry. Water was in generally short supply from all sources, Runoff volumes were approximately 30 percent of average. Spring and summer precipitation depths were similarly well below average. Soil moisture reserves were low going into the season due to a dry fall, general lack of winter snowcover, and low spring precipitation depths. Hot, windy conditions exacerbated the low water supply problem by increasing the crop water demands and evaporation from the reservoirs. The lack of water supplies resulted in drought condition adaptations to the operations of both ditch companies and for the Wrights Mesa Rural Water System (WMRWS). Operations of the irrigation companies will be described in greater detail in the subsequent sections, but municipal operations are briefly described below. In recognition of the gravity of the water supply situation, the WMRWS initiated a program of rationing water for municipal uses on about June 1. The program began with the imposition of an alternate day lawn watering schedule. With no relief forthcoming by July 1, the program became more restrictive with all lawn watering and car washing activities banned, Deliveries continue to be made to the City of Norwood reservoir by the Gurley ditch company, and lifeline uses of water for consumption and hygienic purposes have not been restricted. No plans are known to be in place to restrict lifeline uses, The WMRWS operator is working in close cooperation with ditch company personnel to ensure adequate deliveries for municipal needs. As of mid-September, the situation being faced is one of low supplies and increased difficulty in making deliveries due to increased transit losses caused by a gradual drying of the ditch, Careful monitoring of the water supply and use rate will be needed to provide WMRWS with an adequate supply through the winter, but the available supplies do appear to be adequate.