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Alamosa River and La Jara Creek In general, major calls occur where major decrees come on <br />line. For the Alamosa River, significant swing rights include: <br />El Viejo 14.40 cfs 1 Alamosa Crk. <br />Capulin Ditch 31.37 cfs 10 Alamosa Crk. <br />Ortiz Ditch 14.02 cfs 32 Alamosa Crk. <br />For La Jara Creek, significant swing rights include: <br />• McCunnif Ditch 16.6 cfs 4 La Jara Crk. <br />• Hardtack Ditch -North 9.45 cfs 56 La Jara Crk. <br />• Hardtack Ditch -South 9.00 cfs 56 La Jara Crk. <br />Interaction with Water Users <br />As previously described, Commissioner interaction with water users is frequent, and discussions <br />with owners of the larger ditch systems typically occur on a daily basis. These discussions <br />typically include river flow rates and calling water rights. The Commissioners appear to have <br />developed excellent relationships with most water users in the District and discussions are <br />informal, friendly and cooperative. The Commissioners frequently attend water user meetings <br />and discussion groups. <br />Irrigation Techniques in the District <br />Approximately 40 percent of irrigation in District 21 utilizes sprinkler system water application. <br />Water supply for these systems comes from both groundwater wells and from surface diversions <br />(storage regulation and pumping). Most larger irrigation system rely almost exclusively on <br />sprinklers (e.g. Terrace system), while most smaller ditches (e.g. Valdez and Capulin), with rights <br />between 1 and 10 cfs, predominantly utilize flood irrigation techniques. The practice of sub- <br />irrigation, or recharging the unconfined aquifer to raise water table levels, is not extensively <br />practiced although overbank connditions do occur during peak runoff months. <br />Canal efficiencies for the two primary canal systems (Terrace Main and Alamosa Creek) have <br />historically been low, on the order of a 50 percent loss. These canals were concrete lined in 1992, <br />and have since experienced only minimal losses. <br />Many of the ditches in the Alamosa-La Jara system use a "rotation" system to provide water to <br />their owners. Under this system, water deliveries are rotated around the ditch, with each owner <br />receiving a specified flow rate and duration that is determined by their ownership amount. <br />Use of groundwater is particularly prevalent on lands under La Jara Creek and under the Terrace <br />irrigation system. In fact, water many of the ditch owners along La Jara Creek supplement their <br />La Jara Creek supply either by pumping groundwater or by using water exported from the <br />Alamosa River. <br />Cropping in the District <br />Cropping in District 21 differs between the upper (west) and lower (east) areas of the system. <br />Alfalfa and grain are grown in the upper areas, while the lower areas to the east tend to be farmed <br />for beer barley, wheat, oats and alfalfa. Irrigated acreage information is provided by water users <br />in the District on an annual basis and this information is recorded in the State's database. <br />C:Acdss\D21_Mem.doc District 21 InterviewJuly 2, 1999 -Page 7 of 8 <br />