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information is provided to the Division 3 office, and posted for public review. Ditch owners may <br />be contacted by telephone if changes to headgates are required, or the Commissioner may make <br />the changes himself. <br />While most of the diversion records in the District reflect actual observations by the <br />Commissioners, diversions through other structures may be reported by the ditch owners ("user <br />supplied" information). <br />Interaction with Division 3 <br />While the District Commissioner is responsible for on-the-ground administration of water rights, <br />his efforts are directed and overseen by the Water Division 3 office. Daily diversion and storage <br />records are compiled by the Commissioner, then provided directly to the Division 3 office for <br />review and incorporation into the State's diversion record database. <br />Interstate Compact Administration <br />Use of water rights within District 26 is not effected by requirements set forth under of the Rio <br />Grande Compact because all streams in the District are tributary to the Closed Basin and do not <br />effect the Rio Grande. <br />Swing ("calling") Rights <br />The daily administration of water rights in District 26 is routinely effected by several calling <br />priorities. These calling priorities (or "swing rights") differ depending on the flow levels of the <br />many different creeks. In general, major calls occur where major decrees come on line. For <br />Saguache Creek and its tributaries, significant swing rights include priority number 14 (Hearn <br />Ditch and Friese Ditch No.l) and priority number 19 (which includes the Braun Brothers Ditch <br />No.l, the Lawrence Ditch No.3, the Mountfield Ditch, and the Reservoir Enlargement Ditch). <br />The number 14 priority is typically the calling right during the spring and before runoff begins. <br />Approximately 83 cfs are required at the Saguache Creek gage to fully satisfy the number 14 <br />priority. Approximately 103 cfs are required to satisfy priority number 19. <br />Fully satisfying priority number 14 allows diversions to be made west of Saguache due to the fact <br />that there is less stream loss west of Highway 285. Any water diverted west of the gage is added <br />into the water available to be delivered in the system. When priority number 19 is satisfied, this <br />allows water to be diverted west of the gage: diversions upstream of the gage are added to the <br />actual gage reading. There is some water that returns back to the system through return flows that <br />helps make up some of the loss east of Highway 285. <br />Once priority number 19 has been satisfied, water can normally be delivered to priorities 20, 21, <br />22, and 23. After priority number 19 has been satisfied and numbers 20 through 23 have run, the <br />next calling priorities are typically number 24 and number 25 (three ditches). Priority number 27 <br />typically can divert water when flows at the Saguache Creek gage are in excess of 150 cfs. <br />Priority numbers 32 and 33 (which includes the Oklahoma Ditch) are also swing ditches. <br />Interaction with Water Users <br />As previously described, Commissioner interaction with water users is frequent, and discussions <br />with owners of the larger ditches typically occur on a daily basis. These discussions often <br />address creek flow rates and calling water rights. The Commissioner appears to have developed <br />C:Acdss\D26 Mem.doc District 26 Interview July 2, 1999 -Page 5 of 6 <br />