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<br />implemented CREP programs to reduce well pumping. The Republican River <br />Water Conservation District is considering other options to reduce consumption <br />of water in the basin. <br /> <br />River Basin Issues <br /> <br />1. South Platte River basin: The flows at the Kersey gage east of <br />Greeley were less this year than in 2002 which is quite concerning. <br />This supports my decision in May to not approve the Central Well <br />Augmentation Sub-district substitute water supply plan as the plan <br />was based on about 2 weeks of no call days and we have had senior <br />calls on this year. Weare having to curtail the use of about 2000 <br />large capacity wells as a result of the changing regulatory <br />conditions in the basin. The early July rains did not help as much <br />as hoped and high channel losses prevented the water from <br />reaching the lower end of the basin. Encroachment by vegetation <br />of the channel is the reason and channel capacity has been reduced <br />significantly. The CBT quota is 80% this year and is helping those <br />with surface water get through the irrigation season. <br /> <br />2. <br /> <br />Arkansas River basin: The heavy rains in early July have helped <br />some in the basin and allowed some junior storage rights to come <br />into priority but these rains were of marginal help due to the dry <br />spring. With the release of about 17,000 a-f of account water from <br />the Kansas account, the content John Martin Reservoir is 1 % of its <br />342,645 a-f conservation capacity. <br /> <br />3. Rio Grande basin: The basin is experiencing dry conditions and <br />the flows of the Sangre De Cristo streams are at the lowest in <br />history. The Rio Grande and Conejos basin streams are flowing at <br />about 50% of average at the present time. The reservoirs on the <br />Trinchera Creek basin will be down to fish pools this week. The <br />water court has not issued its decision on the rules for new <br />appropriations from the confined aquifer that I submitted last June. <br />Trial ended in early March so a ruling should be out soon. <br /> <br />4. Gunnison River basin: The runoff is well below average and there <br />are calls on the Uncompahgre River and numerous small streams in <br />the basin. Blue Mesa Reservoir achieved an "operational spill" on <br />June 17 at 1.7 feet below the spillway. We are expecting to have to <br />administer a call by the Gunnison RICD water right if conditions <br />remain as is. There won't be many rights impacted since little new <br />development has occurred since the right was decreed. <br /> <br />~~'\. <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />e. <br />- ~ <br />