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I I I Section 3: Tongue Creek Options Options in the Tongue Creek basin include potential dam sites and possible non- structur al measures described below. I I I I A. Non-Structural Measures Two non-structural approaches to increase the availability of water to irrigate crops, without constructing new storage capacity or importing surplus water from other basins, were considered: I I. Reduce the quantity of water diverted to correspond more closely to crop irrigation requirements, as determined by analysis. I I I 2. Change the locations where releases from the existing reservoirs are mainly used. I Better on-farm water management by irrigators primarily consists of closely monitoring the application of additional water not required by crops. The consultant detected poor prospects for changes that would make more water available for use. When water is abundant in the spring, farmers often apply more water than their crops require. However, they do this when water is abundant, so their "over-irrigation" does not deprive downstream irrigators of sufficient water. In fact, much of the water in excess of crop irrigation requirements which is diverted in the spring eventually reenters the creek as return flows which may then be available for use. This water would have been discharged into the Gunnison River if it had remained in the creek channel without being diverted to cropland. Over-irrigation in the spring is, in effect, a form of temporary storage. Reduction in amounts diverted to conform more closely to crop requirements would not, by itself, be significantly helpful. On the other hand, if flows in excess of crop requirements were being used in the spring to fill a new reservoir, it might in those circumstances be appropriate to bring diversions into closer conformity with crop needs, but naturally without trying to reduce anyone's diversion to less than his recognized diversion right. I I I I I I I IV-5