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Grande. The surface flows of the other small creeks disappear into the Closed Basin alluvium or <br />become groundwater tributary to the Rio Grande. <br />Water Resources Administered <br />Water resources administered by the District 35 Commissioner include all those where water <br />rights have been decreed by the State of Colorado. In District 35, these water resources include: <br />• Trinchera Creek <br />• Ute Creek <br />• Sangre De Cristo Creek <br />• Indian Creek <br />• Little Spring Creek <br />• Big Spring Creek <br />• Sand Creek <br />• Medano Creek <br />• Zapata Creek <br />• Several other minor creeks <br />Spring runoff in the Trinchera Creek basin typically begins in May or June. Sangre de Cristo <br />Creek flow generally peaks in June flowing a maximum of 300 cfs. Ute Creek peaks usually two <br />weeks later flowing a maximum of about 400 cfs ,and then Trinchera Creek two weeks after that <br />flowing a maximum of about 300 cfs. During average years, these creeks flow at approximately <br />one-third their wet-year maximums. <br />The Trinchera Creek basin generally provides 8,000 to 10,000 of of surface flows to the Rio <br />Grande annually. Because the Trinchera Creek system was assumed to be fully developed <br />agriculturally at the time of the Rio Grande Compact and because other small creeks in the <br />District are not directly tributary, only water in excess of diversions must go to the Rio Grande. . <br />Stream Flow Measurement Points <br />There are several stream flow measurement points within District 35. The USGS gages include <br />Trinchera Creek below Smith Reservoir (ID No. 8243500). Other stream flow measurement <br />points include the Espinosa Trinchera Staff Gage, the Ute Creek gage (ID No. 8242500), the <br />Sangre de Cristo gage (ID No. 8241500), Trinchera Creek above Mountain Home Reservoir (ID <br />No. 8241000), Trinchera Creek above mouth (ID No. 8240000), and Trinchera Creek above <br />Turners Ranch (ID No. 8240500). Gage ID No. 8240000 is no longer active. Stage (contents) <br />are recorded for major storage reservoirs in the District. <br />Direct Flow Water Rights and Ditch Capacity Issues <br />There are approximately 95 decreed surface water diversion points within District 35. Most of <br />the diversions take place in the Trinchera Creek basin, consisting of Trinchera Creek, Ute Creek, <br />and Sangre de Cristo Creek. The remainder are smaller diversions at points located on the <br />smaller non-tributary creeks. <br />Two entities control most of the diversions in the Trinchera Creek basin. These are the Trinchera <br />Irrigation Company (TIC) and the Forbes Ranch. The Forbes Ranch irrigates mountain meadows <br />for the purpose of enhancing the elk population and habitat. The Forbes Ranch diversions are <br />generally the upstream diversions in each of the Trinchera Creek tributaries. The Trinchera <br />C:Acdss\D35_Mem.doc District 35 Interview July 2, 1999 -Page 2 of 6 <br />