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A list of all structures within District 26 is provided as Attachment 2. Fora 5 cfs cutoff, 58 key <br />structures exist in District 26 that represent approximately 65% of the decreed rights in District <br />26. Also, the last column of Attachment 2 includes a descriptor that explains why a structure that <br />appears to meet one or more of the above criteria was not considered key. <br />Reservoir Storage Rights and Operations <br />There is one significant reservoir in District 26 used for irrigation purposes. Saguache Reservoir, <br />with an active capacity of 294 acre-feet, is owned and operated by the Coleman Ranch. This <br />reservoir is used almost exclusively as a surge pond (temporary storage) for direct flow rights. <br />Water temporarily stored in Saguache Reservoir is typically released and diverted through the <br />Reservoir Enlargement Ditch within 24 hours of storage. <br />The District Commissioner confirmed that there are no other storage rights that significantly <br />effect 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 />Trans-Mountain Diversions <br />There is one trans-mountain delivery point into District 26. This water, diverted from the Tarbell <br />Trans-mountain Ditch, is owned by the Ward Ranch, Gould Ranch, and Coleman Ranch. The <br />Ward Ranch owns two-fifths interest in the Tarbell Ditch and can take water deliveries through <br />the Ward Highline Ditch, the Ferrington No. l and No.2 Ditches, and the Ward Ditch. The Gould <br />Ranch also owns two-fifths of the Tarbell Ditch and can take deliveries through the Moses Goff <br />Ditch No. 1, and the Fullerton Ditch No. 2. The remaining one-fifth of the Tarbell Ditch is <br />owned by the Coleman Ranch, which can take deliveries through the Reservoir Enlargement <br />Ditch, the Woodard Brothers Ditch, the Florence Ditch and the George Ball Ditch. <br />Transmountain water is typically run from the end of June through the beginning of October, and <br />ranges from 2 to 600 acre-feet per year. All transmountain water deliveries are assessed a <br />transportation loss charge of 10 percent or greater. <br />Day to Day Water Rights Administration <br />Water rights administration occurs by way of frequent and detailed communication between the <br />District 26 Commissioners, the Division 3 Engineer (Steve Vandiver) and his staff, and the many <br />ditch owners in the District. The Commissioner works closely with ditch owners to inform them <br />of flow conditions, curtailment requirements, calling water right priorities, and their own <br />individual entitlements. The Commissioner actively works to control and adjust most of the ditch <br />headgates. The required frequency to adjust headgate structures (diversion flow rate) is a <br />function of the variability of instream flow conditions and the needs of the water users. A sample <br />"call sheet" for District 26 is provided as Attachment 3. <br />Administration of water rights in the District relies heavily on information concerning stream <br />flows. Runoff on Saguache Creek in a normal year begins around the 25th of May and continues <br />through mid-June. Peak flows on Saguache Creek average about 250 cfs. Middle Creek, Sheep <br />Creek and Jack Creek have an earlier runoff period, beginning the first week of May and <br />continuing for two to three weeks. Administration during these changing flow conditions tends to <br />be much more active than during periods of less flow variation. <br />On a daily basis during the irrigation season, the Commissioner retrieves flow information <br />(Saguache Creek gage and Tarbell Trans-mountain Ditch) and prepares a call sheet. This <br />C:Acdss\D26 Mem.doc District 26 Interview July 2, 1999 -Page 4 of 6 <br />