RGDSS_Task4_Dist24_Interview - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Master for the Costilla Creek Compact, and the many ditch owners in the District. Commissioners work closely with ditch owners to inform them of flow conditions, calling water right priorities, and their own individual entitlements. The Commissioners actively work to control and adjust several of the ditch headgates, and simply request adjustments by owners of other structures. The required frequency to adjust headgate structures (diversion flow rate) is a function of the variability of instream flow conditions and the needs of the water users. A sample "call sheet" for District 24 is provided as Attachment 3. The necessity for the Commissioner to actively administer water rights, i.e. visit and adjust diversion structures is highly dependent on changes in flow conditions. The Commissioner faces additional challenges in his administration because of the different hydrologic patterns between Culebra Creek and its tributaries. These conditions commonly require Commissioners to identify futile situations. Futile calls are typically present on many of the smaller tributaries after peak flows subside in the late spring. The Commissioner specifically noted futile call situations on Vallejos, Quates, Jorosa and Torcido creeks. Futile calls on San Francisco Creek are rare because the creek remains live down to its confluence with Ventero Creek. While the majority of diversion records reflect actual observations by the Commissioner, diversions through other structures may be reported by the ditch owners ("user supplied" information). Records that are supplied by ditch owners typically occur on the smaller, junior water rights that are less important from an administrative perspective. Daily administration of water rights in District 24 begins with establishing flow conditions through the Culebra-Eastdale Canal (the Sanchez Ditch and Reservoir Company serves approximately 20,000 acres under the Culebra-Eastdale Canal system). The Commissioner is required to deliver 90 percent of all releases from Sanchez Reservoir to this point (there is a 10 percent transportation loss charge assessed). The Culebra-Eastdale Canal is the lowest active direct flow diversion point on Culebra Creek. The Commissioner then works upstream checking ditches in priority. This process is simplified because more senior ditches tend all be located on the lower reach of Culebra Creek. At the Town of San Luis, the Culebra Creek gage is checked to ensure that flows are sufficient to satisfy downstream senior rights. The San Luis Peoples Ditch, which is the most senior water right in the State of Colorado, is located just downstream of the San Luis gage. On Ventero Creek between Sanchez Reservoir and the confluence with Culebra Creek, there are several smaller water rights that have little effect on administration. As previously discussed, futile call situations are common on some of the smaller tributaries. Return flows from upstream diversions play a significant role in the way water rights are administered along Culebra Creek. The Commissioner relies on his experience with river gains to maximize the amount of water he makes available to users. Return flows are further discussed below. Interaction with Division 3 While the District Commissioner is responsible for on-the-ground administration of water rights, his efforts are directed and overseen by the Water Division 3 office. Daily diversion and storage records are compiled by the Commissioner, then provided directly to the Division 3 office for review and incorporation into the State's diversion record database. C:Acdss\D24 Mem.doc District 24 Interview July 2, 1999 -Page 5 of 7