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In addition, there are numerous decreed storage rights for smaller reservoirs, lakes and stock <br />ponds in the District, which are not typically impacted by day to day water administration. <br />As with direct flow diversions, the surface water model being developed for the RGDSS will <br />consider certain storage structures as key. The District Commissioners confirmed that Platoro <br />Reservoir is the principal storage structure in the District and the only one that significantly <br />effects water rights administration. Although numerous small stock ponds exist in the District <br />with decreed water rights, these ponds fill each year with natural local runoff from precipitation. <br />Platoro Reservoir was completed in 1953, after the signing of the Rio Grande Compact and as <br />such, storage in this "post-Compact" reservoir occurs under special restrictions. Although Platoro <br />has its own storage right (1975 decree), it is not allowed to store water during the winter months <br />without special approval of Division 3. Any water stored during the winter months, for example, <br />is termed "Compact water," and may be required to be released for Compact purposes. Compact <br />water stored in Platoro may also be released to downstream water users if deemed to not be <br />needed to help meet Compact delivery requirements. Storage under its own right, which is very <br />junior in priority, can typically only occur during very high flow conditions. <br />Platoro Reservoir was owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation up until 1992, <br />when it was purchased by the Conejos Water Conservancy District. The District currently <br />maintains and operates the reservoir, although the Bureau and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers <br />oversee operations during flood operations. Platoro is operated in agreement with the COE <br />Flood-Control Regulation Manual. This manual uses a standard set of curves to specify <br />drawdowns in the conservation pool from March 1 to May 9 based on (1) forecasted inflows up <br />until July 31 and (2) current reservoir contents. During flood control releases, or any other <br />releases from Platoro, flows in the Conejos River are managed such that they do not exceed 2,500 <br />cfs at the Magote gage and 1,600 cfs at the La Sauces gage. <br />The CWCD regularly makes delivery out of its general (i.e. project storage) pool to downstream <br />water users. The CWCD makes the water available at a cost of $4.50 per acre-foot. Historically, <br />ditches have begun requesting storage water in the beginning of June. Attachment 6, is an <br />accounting for Platoro Reservoir for 1998 and is representative of the ditches that have <br />historically purchased storage water from the District. <br />In 1990, the CWCD applied for and was granted the right to store water in Platoro Reservoir <br />under participating direct flow rights (see Case No. 90CW048). Storage under these direct flow <br />rights is essentially treated like an alternate point diversion. There are several important terms and <br />conditions defined by the decrees allowing direct flow storage, including that direct flow rights be <br />in priority at least ten days prior to storage, and the assessment of a percentage by-pass <br />requirement and transportation charge to releases. Water that is stored under direct flow must be <br />used on the same lands from which it was derived, and any direct flow storage water remaining in <br />Platoro at the end of the irrigation season reverts back to the CWCD. Ditches that may <br />participate in the direct flow storage program include several located on the Rio San Antonio, <br />whereby diversions occur by exchange using Platoro releases on the Conejos River (although the <br />exchange potential, driven by river flow conditions, is relatively short-lived). The decree issued <br />in 90CW048 is provided as Attachment 2 to this memorandum. <br />The CWCD refers to their direct flow storage program as "ISA" or Individual Storage Accounts. <br />The CWCD allows individual ditches to store their direct flow rights at a cost of $3.60 per acre- <br />foot. Since the ISA program began in 1991, approximately 27 ditches have participated. <br />C:Acdss\D22_Mem.doc District 22 Interview July 2, 1999 -Page 5 of 9 <br />