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Included in the list of water diversion structures are many small diversions at points located <br />primarily on tributary streams, and several larger ditch systems diverting from the Alamosa River <br />and La Jara Creek. A straight-line diagram for the District is provided as Attachment 1. <br />One of the larger tributaries administered in the Alamosa-La Jara system is La Jara Arroyo Creek. <br />This tributary (also known as Diamond Springs) supplies several smaller direct flow rights and its <br />flow is highly dependent on irrigation activity on lands lying to the south and irrigated using <br />water from the Conejos River. Flows in Arroyo Creek typically range from 1 to 12 cft, but not <br />physically connected to La Jara Creek during dry period. <br />The Empire Canal which is owned by the Commonwealth Irrigation Company, diverts water from <br />the Rio Grande near Monte Vista and intersects both the Alamosa River and La Jara Creek north <br />of the Town of La Jara. There are several diversion structures on the Alamosa River and La Jara <br />Creek which are entitled to water deliveries from the Empire Canal (either directly or by <br />exchange). Ditches having ownership of Empire Canal water on La Jara River and Alamosa <br />Creek include: <br />• Head Overflow Ditch <br />• Lower La Jara Ditch <br />• L.E. Shawcroft and Sons Ditch <br />• Keystone Ditch <br />• Baker Ditch <br />• Murphy Crowther Ditch <br />• Guyman Ditch <br />• Murphy Crowther Wildcat Ditch <br />• Reed Ditch No. 1 <br />• Reed Ditch No. 2 <br />• Reynolds Reed Ditch <br />The amount of water carried in the Empire Canal to the Alamosa and La Jara systems is measured <br />with an F-Type recorder prior to reaching Alamosa Creek. A 10 percent shrinkage charge is <br />applied to all water delivered through the Empire to users on the Alamosa River and La Jara <br />Creek. <br />The Lowland Ditch, which combines with the flows of the South Branch Overflow Ditch No. 1 <br />can carry water from the Lower Alamosa River to several ditches on the Lower La Jara system, <br />including: <br />• Murphy Crowther Ditch <br />• Cat House Dam and Murphy Crowther Wildcat Ditch <br />• Reed Ditch No. 1 <br />• Reed Ditch No. 2 <br />• Reynolds Reed Ditch <br />The Lowland Ditch supplies water to these La Jara Creek ditches at a point on La Jara Creek just <br />downstream from the Lower La Jara Ditch. The flows in this ditch are monitored such that water <br />can be apportioned to the La Jara Creek rights. <br />As described, ditches on the lower reaches of the Alamosa River and La Jara Creek have several <br />potential sources of water to divert. Included are water from drainage and seepage collection <br />C:Acdss\D21_Mem.doc District 21 InterviewJuly 2, 1999 -Page 3 of 8 <br />