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<br />season as it progresses. After the annual index supply forecasts for both riVers are established, then water <br />rights are curtailed as is necessary to ensure that the Compact delivery r.quirement is met. If the actual <br />runort; an~ summer thunderstorm activity change the forecast~d index s~~ply ~hen adjustm~nts .are. made <br />to delIveries to account for those changes. Large late season mcreases mHhe mdexes requIre slgmficant <br />changes in administration that can cause considerable hardship to very senior pre-Compact water rights. <br /> <br />As described above, day-to-day administration of the Rio Grande COIbpact for inter- and intrastate <br />purposes involves a series of detailed calculations using historical, real-ti/ne, and forecasted stream flow <br />information at all seven of the Compact gages as well as the intermediate ~ages in between them. <br /> <br />The upper index gages are: <br />Rio Grande near Del Norte <br />Conejos River near Mogote <br />Los Pinos River near Ortiz (April- October) <br />San Antonio River at Ortiz (April- October) <br /> <br />The lower index gages are: <br />Rio Grande near Lobatos <br />Conejos near La Sauses (two stations) <br /> <br />Flows at these locations are used to determine the total annual delivery obl!gation, to determine deliveries <br />to date, and to establish a "curtailment" of water use if needed to meet the~elivery obligation of the year. <br />The State Engineer, through the Engineer Adviser and the staff in the Divi~ion of Water Resources office <br />in Alamosa, make these calculations every 10 days when diversions are b4ing made, and monthly during <br />the remainder of the year for both river systems. It is critical to remem~er that each river is analyzed <br />separately and that each river has its own delivery obligation. <br /> <br />The general methodology for making these calculations is described in the lour following steps. The dates <br />are for illustrative purposes only and vary depending on the forecast and,~ompact status of the State of <br />Colorado. Examples ofthe 10-day analysis sheets and report are attached. ' <br /> <br />January 1" through March 31" <br /> <br />Both the Rio Grande and the Conejos River diversions are cuIjailed 100 percent, that is no <br />diversions are allowed except for storage in pre-Compact res~rvoirs. Any storage in post- <br />Compact reservoirs is accounted for and subject to Compact rule~:. Exception to the I 00 percent <br />curtailment can occur if Colorado has a large accrued credit, a spi(t of Elephant Butte has or will <br />occur or if drought conditions prevail and thus the anticipated obligation is very low. This action <br />will maximize deliveries to the Stateline during this period and wl:1l allow for lower curtailment <br />during the irrigation season. The Closed Basin Project is pumped fat a prudent level considering <br />the limitations of winter operations and well production. The Match I forecast is used to make <br />some of the initial analyses for how the Compact will be admini~tered for the early part of the <br />irrigation season. The Rio Grande headwater areas typically receivp large accumulations of snow <br />during this month and therefore it is normally assumed that signiJ!icant changes will be made to <br />the projected index supply when the April forecast is received. . <br /> <br />April 1" through October 31" <br /> <br />Diversions are normally allowed to commence around April I bu{because of the normally cold <br />springs and low demand, Compact obligations are usually made wilhout any curtailment. As soon <br />as the April forecast is received from the Natural Resources Const{rvation Service (NRCS) on or <br />