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San Juan/Dolores/San Miguel Basin Roundtable Technical Meeting #4 Meeting Summary Since only about 5,000 acres is currently being irrigated out of 21,000 potentially irrigable acres, the shortage should be higher than 38 percent. The irrigation water requirement (IWR) should be 1.5 -1.6 AF / acre for District 33. The 31,000 AF value shown in the presentation for District 33 "Historical Diversions" may be the allocated amount, but not that much is actually diverted. The SWSI team will provide this feedback back to the SJDSM Decision Support System (DSS) team, from which these data were obtained. It was noted that the 31,000 AFY could actually be the amount of flow at the Hesperus gage. . The DSS should consider the differences in application rate, as not all users in District 32/71 flood irrigate; some ditches apply only 22 inches (e.g., the Dolores Project). . The potential cause for increased shortages in District 32/71 over time may relate to over- committing Dolores Project resources, as the project was designed only for a 22-inch supply. It was suggested that follow up discussions with the DSS team and the Dolores Water Conservancy District may be appropriate. The Dolores Project efficiency is high, suggesting that the difference (Historical diversions - WSL values shown in presentation) is too high for District 32 in 1994-2002. . The Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company went from significant shortages to almost none with bringing Dolores Project online. . The group was encouraged to use judgment in interpreting shortage estimates, and to not misinterpret the apparent results of the project and effects on shortages. . For SWSI key findings, the group concurred that agricultural needs should include Long Hollow Reservoir and Red Mesa Reservoir enlargement as critical projects to reduce existing shortages and to assist in compact compliance. . Consider the "seniority" of Endangered Species Act water needs on the availability of supplies. . Another key finding should be (for M&I uses) that Dry Gulch is critical to meeting future needs. . An additional "Identified Project and Process" activity is the ongoing Cutthroat Trout re- establishment efforts on the Florida River. Meeting Future Water Needs The strategies for meeting future water needs were discussed by Kelly DiNatale. Kelly reviewed the families of options which include conservation, agricultural transfers, reservoirs, non-tributary groundwater, M&I reuse, and control of non-native phreatophytes. These families of options were broken down into further detail to comprise the following: . Active M&I conservation . Agricultural efficiency . Permanent agricultural transfer . Interruptible agricultural transfer . Rotating agricultural transfer, or fallowing with firming for agricultural use . Water banks . New storage . Enlarge existing storage . Control of non-native phreatophytes CDIVI 4 SJD BRT Mtg #4 Summary.doc 11/29/2004