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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Experience has shown the water diverted through the ditch is quite variable (In 2002, a <br />severe drought year, no water was delivered, in 1997 & 1999 more than 1,000 acre-feet <br />was delivered to the Rio Grande Basin. The significant variations are caused primarily <br />by the length of time the water rights are in-priority, the physical availability of water at <br />the headgate, the difficultly in accessing the diversion structure and ditch particularly <br />during above average snow years, and the frequent ditch maintenance requirements. <br />Accessing the area requires a 21f2 hour horseback ride to the diversion structure and a <br />requirement that all maintenance be accomplished with hand tools or horse drawn <br />equipment in accordance with Wilderness regulations. This causes maintenance and <br />operation of the ditch to be difficult. <br /> <br />The variability of the ditch diversions is demonstrated in Table 3-2 which contains the <br />past ten years of diversion quantities. During the past ten years, the District has placed a <br />high priority on repair of the ditch and diversion structure. <br /> <br />Table 3-2 <br />Pine River Weminuche Pass Ditch <br />Recent Diversion Records <br /> <br />Water Days Total* <br />Year Carried (ac-ft/yr) <br />2007 66 529 <br />2006 48 461 <br />2005 67 474 <br />2004 52 240 <br />2003 18 103 <br />2002 0 0 <br />2001 110 462 <br />2000 21 203 <br />1999 74 1100 <br />1998 44 375 <br />1997 121 1070 <br /> <br />Based on the tabulation of estimated water yield of District augmentation decrees in <br />Table 2-1, the water availability at 95% confidence is 212 acre-feet per year for the <br />District's existing water rights in the Pine River Weminuche Pass Ditich (106 acre- <br />feet/year for 84CW16 and 94CW62 each). 212 acre-feet per year represents one-half of <br />the ditch rights, therefore the entire ditch yield at 95% confidence is 424 acre-feet per <br />year. Based on this yield the proposed purchase of a one-third (1/3) interest will produce <br />approximately (424/3) = 141 acre-feet per year. It is important to recognize that <br />transmountain water, such as that carried by the Pine River Weminuche Pass Ditch, can <br />be used to extinction in the Rio Grande Basin, thus removing the requirement to calculate <br />the historical consumptive use of the water right. <br /> <br />E01662 <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />fJJ SINCE D"W1~ <br />..~~ ll!ti:. J948 ""I~'J'"''>'''.J'~I''' <br />~~~:, ;s;:t"~"J~!Z:t:i~..~,..'W <br />/~) 7r~\,; ~.~_ ~lE";l~:jt:~" 1~t> <br />