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• Board Meeting Date: 7/22/2008
• Description: ISF Section - Lower San Miguel Water Resources Planning Study
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Lower San Miguel yVa~er Resource Planning Study
Page 14
• The San Miguel Basin could experience a senior call that it has not
experienced for over 60 years. Although currently decreed for these
purposes, this use could significantly alter the current water right
administration and historic use of water in the basin.
• Thus, using the Miguel Power Company Canal water rights for their
decreed purpose would also not be desirable or feasible.
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Using the Miguel Power Company Canal water rights as currently decreed
would not appear feasible or desirable. The apparent cost of installing generation
equipment for the dollar return would not be feasible. The land where the power
canal and powerhouse were located is now part of the remediated lands and would
not be available for its original use.
VII.B Instream Flow Use-
This alternative looks at changing the Uravan Water Rights to Instream flow uses in the
San Miguel River Basin.
Johnson Ditch Water Rights
Factors Considered
• Changing the Johnson Ditch water rights to Instream flow use could
provide a portion of the Instream flow water right that the CWCB staff is
evaluating for possible appropriation by the Board.
• The acquired Johnson Ditch rights could be used to improve the natural
environment with the proper findings being made by the CWCB.
• Such a change of use would require applying to water court for a
change of use and a change of place of use to include the Instream flow
reach.
• The history of use of the Johnson Ditch rights is very limited and would
most certainly result in a significant reduction in the amount of water
changed.
• If changed to Instream flow use, the yield of the water rights that could
reasonably be expected might be very small and potentially insignificant
for Instream flow use, both in amount and duration.
• Changing the Johnson Ditch rights to Instream flow purposes, i.e. non-
consumptive use, may render its status as a pre-1922 water right for
Colorado River Compact purposes void.
• Should such a change be successfully completed and the priority dates
retained, the San Miguel Basin could experience a senior call that it has
not experienced for over 60 years. This could significantly alter the
current water right administration and historic use of water in the basin.
~Iuly 2008