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be measured at asatellite-linked gage on the Petersen Ditch at the State Line Ditch (return flows <br />to the South Platte River). <br />The reservoir is operated such that each District land owner receives an annual allotment of <br />storage water based on the amount of bonded District acres owned. When the direct flow water <br />right is in priority, irrigation deliveries are made with "non-charge" water and the delivery is not <br />considered to be a portion of the user's allotment. When the direct flow water right available and <br />delivery of storage water is made, it is considered to be "charge" water and is a portion of the <br />user's allotment. <br />Historically, the District managed its water such that a minimum amount of irrigation water was <br />to be requested by land owners before releasing water from the reservoir, although the District no <br />longer has a minimum release call. Irrigation releases are generally made when a group of land <br />owners request water. <br />The District delivers irrigation water to approximately 150 individual turnouts located on the <br />Highline Canal, Settlers Ditch and Petersen Ditch. Some of the turnouts are equipped with <br />Parshall flumes for measurement of deliveries. Turnouts may serve more than one user or farm, <br />and farms may be served by more than one turnout. Water users must contact the ditch rider 24 <br />hours in advance to request water or change a request. There is one ditch rider responsible for <br />each of the three canals. The ditch riders typically control the turnout gates. <br />The first requests for irrigation water can commence at the beginning of April of each year and <br />end on near the end of September, depending on the weather. The District manages water such <br />that the allotment for a land owner will be charged for the full amount (rate) of water requested, <br />despite the land owner taking the water or not, providing the order was placed and water was <br />released from storage. No irrigation deliveries are made via the outlet canal during the winter <br />months. <br />Approximately 85% of the irrigated lands in the District are flood irrigated, with approximately <br />65% of the flood irrigated land utilizing gated pipe. The remaining 15% of the lands in the <br />District are irrigated using sprinkler systems. A majority of the sprinkler systems typically use <br />ground water, with a minority of the systems pumping from small ponds that receive water <br />deliveries from the outlet canal. Use of sprinklers has become more common in the District over <br />the last 20 years. The practice of reusing tailwater is very minimal in the District. Tailwater <br />from flood irrigation on lands in the Highline Canal and Settlers Ditch service areas are generally <br />captured by the Petersen Ditch and delivered to land in the Petersen Ditch service area. <br />Colorado State University has made significant efforts in developing data management tools to <br />record and document water deliveries made to the District. Extensive records of deliveries exist <br />in more recent years due in part to the tools developed for the District. <br />1) Harmony Ditch No. 1 (Structure ID 6400511) <br />The Harmony Ditch No. 1 headgate is located on the north side of the South Platte River and is <br />the only inlet to the reservoir. The ditch travels in a northeastern direction through Water <br />District 64 paralleling the South Platte River to the reservoir. The ditch conveys water for the <br />Julesburg Irrigation District.doc Page 5 of 12 <br />