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<br />UUI/J, <br /> <br />Long Hollow Dam and Reservoir Summary Report-Preliminary Draft <br /> <br />a. Between December 1st and February 15th, each state shall have the unrestricted right to <br />use all the water which may flow within its boundaries and on each day from February 15 <br />to December 1 when the mean daily flow at the Interstate Station is 100 cubic feet per <br />second (cfs) or more. <br /> <br />b. On all other days the state of Colorado shall deliver at the Interstate Station a quantity of <br />water equivalent to one-half of the mean flow at the Hesperus Station for the preceding <br />day, but not to exceed 100 cfs. <br /> <br />c. Need to describe the "split river" condition. <br /> <br />Currently flows measured at the Hesperus, Colorado gauge must travel approximately 31 river <br />miles to the State Line gauge at the Colorado-New Mexico border. In many years, following <br />spring runoff, the flow of the La Plata River at Hesperus declines so much that one-half of the <br />flow at Hesperus will not reach the state line because the arid climate and high summer <br />temperatures, combined with a porous stream channel and other natural conditions, cause the <br />river to "dry up" for extended periods along stream reaches that may extend for miles (a "Futile <br />Call" situation). The La Plata River, beginning near Breen, Colorado and continuing <br />downstream to the Cherry Creek confluence is the primary stretch of the river that loses a <br />significant amount of stream flow, particularly during the low flow periods of the year. This <br />natural loss of La Plata River flow reduces the irrigation water supplies available to both <br />Colorado and New Mexico water users. <br /> <br />During the periods of minimal streamflow when the measured stream flows at the Hesperus <br />gauging station are insufficient (approximately 20 cfs) to cause allow one-half of the flow to <br />reach the state line a futile call exists and ,ditches in Colorado that are upstream of the dry <br />stretch of the river may divert water in-priority for beneficial irrigation use. Curtailment of these <br />ditches during a Futile Call, preventing crop irrigation in the vain attempt to deliver water <br />through an extended dry streambed, contradicts a primary Compact purpose to maximize the <br />beneficial use of water in an equitable manner. LHR would provide water, stored in-priority, to <br />seek to improve Compact deliveries to New Mexico through an efficient delivery system that <br /> <br />991-077.115 <br />May 2004 <br /> <br />Wright Water Engineers, Inc. <br /> <br />Page 3 <br />