PROJ02073

• Contract/PO #: C153686
• Contractor Name: Red Mesa Ward Reservoir and Ditch Company
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• Bill Number: HB 95-1155
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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There is also an interstate compact on the LaPlata River between Colorado and New Mexico
which is included in Exhibit C. The conditions of the compact include: (1) between December 1
and February 15 both states have unrestricted use ofthe river, (2) when the stateline gage is 100
cfs of more there shall be unrestricted use, (3) when 1 and 2 do not apply, Colorado shall deliver
one half of the flow at the Hesperus gage to New Mexico.

Generally, the Red Mesa water rights are in priority every year from about November 1 to April
1 which is the non-irrigation period plus times when the stateline gage is greater than 100 cfs.
For the past several years the reservoir has filled from Hay Gulch flows and the diversion from
the LaPlata River has not been necessary.

A daily operation study of the LaPlata River was prepared from 1975 to 1992 to analyze the
potential diversions to the enlarged reservoir. The operation study is based on the gage readings
at Hesperus and the stateline and ditch diversion records. The historic inflow and releases from
Red Mesa Reservoir were not duplicated because of the difficulty in simulating past operation.
Return flows were not included because of the difficulty in quantification and to make the
hydrologic evaluation more conservative (e.g. more water than indicated in the evaluation).

The years 1989 and 1990 from the operation study are included in Exhibit A, in order to include
all of the years would have required over 100 pages, the complete package of data is available
upon request. The columns are described below.

~ Cohimn (1) the date.

~ Columns (2) through (13) are the ditches between the Hesperus Gage and the Red Mesa
Diversion structure. The diversion amounts obtained from the Division 7 Engineers
office are shown in each column for each ditch for each day.

~ Columns (14) to (16) are the ditches below the Red Mesa Diversion but values are not
included in the analysis because they are assumed to be served by return flow. Bypasses
at the diversion point are not necessary.

~ Columns (17) to (22) are the heart of the operation study and show the estimated water
that could be diverted to Red Mesa Reservoir. Each column is described:

~ Column (17) shows the dates that the LaPlata River was on call, designated by a "9".

~ Column (18) is the recorded flow at the Hesperus gage.

~ Column (19) is the recorded flow at the Stateline gage.

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