Lake Pueblo Water Leased to State

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Pueblo, Colorado U.S.A Page 3 of 4 w Division 2 Engineer Steve Witte. "There's more water in the lower part of the system than the various entities have specified they will use. We need to get more in the upper part of the system," Witte said. Winter water, which canal companies agree to store from Nov. 15 to March 15 in lieu of irrigating, is being diverted through the Colorado Canal to Lake Meredith and at the Fort Lyon Storage Canal. Flows below Pueblo pick up as water from Fountain Creek and other tributaries are added to the Arkansas River. River readings on Friday showed there was about 50 cfs through Pueblo, with half of that coming through the fish hatchery. Fountain Creek added 178 cfs to the river, and by the time the river reached Avondale flows increased to 339 cfs. The Colorado Canal was diverting 324 cfs, while Fort Lyon Storage Canal diverted 103 cfs. Flows above Lake Pueblo were 555 cfs, with 142 cfs of Fryingpan- Arkansas Water being moved into Lake Pueblo by the Bureau of Reclamation to make space in Turquoise and Twin Lakes for Western Slope diversions later this year. Witte said the water released under the state lease with the Board of Water Works will be shepherded to John Martin, but won't affect diversions at the Colorado Canal and Fort Lyon. "They can adjust their headgate operations to avoid a problem," Witte said. Meanwhile, state managers said the lease will work out well for all involved. "This is a win -win situation," said Dan Prenzlow, Division of Wildlife regional manager. "Water released from Pueblo Reservoir will assure adequate flows to protect the fishery through Pueblo County and ultimately increase the storage content of the permanent pool at John Martin Reservoir." That's good news for fishermen, he said. "In the past two years, the amount of water that could be legally stored in John Martin Reservoir has reached http: / /www.chieftain.com/metro /1171099747/1 2/15/2007