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• Bear Creek <br />• Ford Creek <br />• Jack Creek <br />• Middle Creek <br />• Numerous other small tributaries to Saguache Creek <br />• Werner Arroyo / Fullerton Arroyo <br />Saguache Creek extends roughly 65 miles from its headwaters near Creede to the Closed Basin. <br />Many of the smaller tributaries within the District have several diversion structures. There are <br />multiple diversion structures on the Werner Arroyo which returns flow from senior rights on <br />Saguache Creek. These returns help make delivery of water to junior rights on the Arroyo. <br />When there is water for the rights on the Arroyo, it is difficult to deliver this water due to draw <br />down from wells located on the North Star Farm. The Arroyo runs through the middle of the <br />Farm, with a great loss on the system. <br />San Luis Lake, located within the Closed Basin, is the low point of the Saguache Creek drainage <br />basin. <br />Stream Flow Measurement Points <br />There is one stream flow measurement point along Saguache Creek located 8.5 miles west of the <br />Town of Saguache (ID No. 8227000). Information from this gage is regularly used to help <br />administer water rights in the District. There is one small tributary (Ford Creek) which <br />contributes flow downstream of the gage. This creek is equipped with a 3-foot cutthroat flume, <br />and flows are added to the Saguache Creek flows to determine total available water supply. <br />Direct Flow Water Rights and Ditch Capacity Issues <br />There are approximately 162 decreed surface water diversion points within District 26. There are <br />approximately 70 diversion structures located on the mainstem of Saguache Creek, and another <br />40 to 50 structures located on side tributaries. A straight-line diagram for water rights on <br />Saguache Creek and its tributaries is provided as Attachment 1. <br />All diversion structures in District 26 are equipped with measuring devices. The majority of the <br />devices consist of Parshall flumes of various sizes. Use of direct flow rights typically occurs <br />during the period April 1 through October 31. However, variations in climatic conditions may <br />often result in minor extension or shortening of this "irrigation season." Diversions on the side <br />tributaries are run in priority with the mainstem. <br />The number 1 priority in District 26 is shared between two ditches. The Chase Peyton Ditch, <br />with a right of 0.8 cfs, is located on Saguache Creek approximately 28 miles west of the Town of <br />Saguache. The Chase Peyton Ditch is the highest ditch on the mainstem of Saguache Creek. <br />The Malone Sullivan Ditch, with a right of 4.4 cfs, is located approximately 1 mile west of <br />Saguache. Priority numbers 2, 3, and 6 and other rights are also carried through the Malone <br />Sullivan Ditch. Priorities number 3 is located approximately 26 miles west of Saguache. Priority <br />number 4 is located approximately 1 mile west of Saguache, immediately below the Malone <br />Sullivan Ditch. The Commissioner noted that most senior rights are within 5 to 6 miles of the <br />Town. <br />The District Commissioner pointed out the most senior water rights on each of several tributaries, <br />including: <br />C:Acdss\D26 Mem.doc District 26 Interview July 2, 1999 -Page 2 of 6 <br />