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o Burlington-Wellington Canal, the Union Ditch, the North Sterling Canal, the Lower Latham Ditch, and the Riverside Canal, is essential since the large amounts diverted can have a significant effect on the flow of the South Platte River below Denver. Another benefit to this division resulting from the satellite monitoring system is that water from storms (flood peaks) occurring in upstream areas can be recognized early. This allows adequate time for water users to respond to these floods and divert them for beneficial use or storage rather than have the water exit the state unused. Additionally, if flood peaks larger than 2000 cfs can be diverted and reduced to 2000 cfs or less, the sand dams employed by diverters can be spared from being washed out. Preventing their washing out allows those structures to continue diverting water rather than waiting up to one week after water levels have reduced to repair the sand dams and begin diverting again. This is very important in years with low to normal flows intermingled with flood peaks from rainstorms. The main responsibility of the Division Engineer is to coordinate the administration of water rights for the respective division. Because of the large area covered in Division 1, many tributaries and districts are administered. In order to coordinate the administration in each of the districts, knowledge of the current river conditions for the South Platte River and its tributaries is essential. Inflow from the Big Thompson River, Cache La Poudre River, and St. Vrain Creek can provide the majority of the flow in the South Platte River below Kersey. The satellite monitoring system provides the Division 1 Engineer with the basinwide information necessary to accomplish the task outlined above. In coordinating daily administration for the division, the Division Engineer can analyze conditions for the entire area early each day. With the flow information on each tributary and at various river locations, the Division Engineer can coordinate administration between districts. As an example, the information can provide the status of diver- sions in District 2 (Denver to Kersey) and compare that with the amount of water available in the upstream areas to decide what adjustments need to be made to Chatfield Reservoir releases in order to satisfy the senior rights below the reservoir. The information from the system can be used to monitor water releases from reservoirs to ensure that the water is reaching its proper destination. These data are incorporated directly into our flow records which previously had been worked up manually using significantly more time and resources. As the division gets more experience in using the data and software. it is expected that additional uses will be incorporated into river administra- .tion.. Included would be return flow studies, graphical analysis of flows, water quality monitoring, and development of an extensive data bank which will be invaluable as water development progresses. The overall knowledge of river conditions made possible by the satellite monitoring system and the efficiency of administration resulting from that information have made the water commissioners and Division Engineer much more knowledgeable and responsive administrators. Once this level of performance is made possible, it is the consensus of all dealing with the system that anything less would be a major step backwards in river administration. The -78- .