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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 5. The pros and cons of reregu1ating water supplies to the various ditches through the integrated use of surface and ground water supplies. 6. The "cash register" approach, which provides that water users in the basin pay a fee which, in theory, would be proportional to the benefits derived. We reviewed all published and unpublished reports and acquired basic data and studies which might relate to the subject. The Colorado Water Conservation Board provided data relating to deple- tion studies, the location, capacity and yield of irrIgation wells, water storage In John Martin Reservoir and consumptive use investi- gations. The U. S. Geological Survey provided information on the capacity, use and volume of water pumped by wells and information which could be used to relate pumpage of a particular well to its effect on the river system. The U. 5. Bureau of Reclamation, through the Frying Pan Arkansas Project office in Pueblo, provIded water operation studies for canals between Pueblo and La Junta, historic canal diversions, ideal canal requirements and Importation of Frying Pan Arkansas Project water for use by individuals under contract with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. AddItional data was obtained from the office of the State Engineer and from Colorado State University. -3- SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS After a thorough review of all pertinent data, it was apparent that additional studies were warranted. One such study was a comparison of mass diagrams on a yearly basis of the stream flow at Pueblo versus time and of the irrigation season diversions by all canals between Pueblo and La Junta versus time on a yearly basis. These dIagrams revealed no material deviation of the inflow at Pueblo between 1943 and 1965. Contrasted to this, the diagram of surface diversions during the irrigation season showed a marked reduction in these diversions beginning in the early 1950's when the pumping of ground water was increased materially. The decrease In these surface diversions, as