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<br />VIII. UTILITY OF THE SATELLITE-LINKED MONITORING SYSTEM <br />WITHIN THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES <br />NARRATIVE AND SPECIFIC APPLICATION EXAMPLES <br /> <br />A. Division 1, Greeley, Colorado, South Platte River Basin <br />Alan Berryman, Division Engineer <br /> <br />The satellite-linked monitoring system has become an integral tool in <br />daily water rights administration in Division 1. With increasing complexity <br />in the administration of the South Platte River basin, the system provides the <br />key to effective decision making. <br /> <br />In past years, river information needed for river administration was <br />slow, if not difficult, to acquire because of the remote location of key <br />gaging stations. Administration was inefficient and frustrating to the water <br />commissioner and to downstream water users. With the satellite monitoring <br />system, comprehensive river data are available to the water commissioner <br />allowing him to administer water rights on a timely and accurate basis. This <br />ability allows the water users to adjust more quickly to the changing condi- <br />tions of the river system and expand the number of water rights able to divert <br />and use water. The system allows the water commissioner to determine the <br />river conditions largely on his own, not having to rely as much on data <br />supplied by water users. This results in closer administration of water <br />rights, potentially benefiting all water users of the area by assuring that <br />the available supply of water is being diverted by the correct water right, <br />Another advantage of the satellite monitoring system is that the water commis- <br />sioner can release water downstream knowing that the amounts released reflect <br />actual river conditions and won't have to be adjusted at a later date. The <br />efficiency afforded to the water commissioner allows him to attend to more of <br />his other duties which are ever increasing with the growth of the water rights <br />system such as ground water administration. <br /> <br />With the satellite monitoring system data, the water commissioner can <br />immediately evaluate river conditions both upstream and immediately above the <br />senior rights. Subsequently, he can adjust diversions in his own district to <br />satisfy the more senior rights or send a demand (call) to the upstream <br />districts for more water to satisfy those rights early in the day. This is <br />especially critical in administering water exchanges. <br /> <br />The river can be run more efficiently simply as a result of the increased <br />knowledge of the river conditions provided by the satellite monitoring <br />system. The readily available knowledge of river conditions also provides the <br />water commissioner with "evidence" that can be beneficial when interacting <br />with water users that question administrative practices. The system makes it <br />easier for the water commissioners to interact with other district water <br />commissioners in receiving or passing water through his district. The ability <br />to monitor diversions by some of the major irrigation diversions including the <br /> <br />-77- <br />