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<br />.61.,. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />The r,eturn flow along the main stream of the South Platte for a <br />distance of about 240 miles, between Waterton and.Julesburg, is now <br />more or less established at about 1,000,000 acre-feet annually. The <br />return waters accruing in the several tributary streams would increase <br />greatly the total amount for the entire drainage area of the South <br />Platte. Because of the topography and favorable soil conditions through- <br />out the irrigated areas within this basin, it is estimated that from a <br />third to one-half of the total diversions will appear eventually as re- <br />turn flow to serve water users farther downstream. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Very shortly the principal tributaries to the South Platte will re- <br />ceive an additional supplemental water supply of approximately 300,000 <br />acre-feet annually delivered by the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. It <br />is likely that the bulk of this new water supply will be used on lands <br />of higher elevations. The return flow entering at points farther down- <br />stream will be available for reuse on lands at lower elevations and thus <br />tend to maintain and strengthen the water supply beyond. If this premise <br />of the final stabilization of return flow, when the present water supply <br />is augmented by another Poudre River, proves later to be a reasonable <br />'assumption, then the total return from this added supply may well exceed <br />one-half the water delivered by the project. It can be expected with <br />confidence that the water supply in the Lower South Platte Valley will <br />be very much increased due to the return flow from irrigated areas up- <br />stream as well as inflow from lands along this stretch of the main <br />river. <br /> <br />The phenomenon of the return flow to streams from adjacent irri- <br />gated lands and water held in storage reservoirs is somewhat paradoxical <br />in that the more water we use judiciously in the irrigation of our lands <br />the stronger the available water supply in the parent stream to serve <br />yet more land. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />R. L.Parshall <br /> <br />The Parshall flume was named for him by those who <br />worked with him on its development. <br />