PROJ00159

• Contract/PO #: C153305
• Contractor Name: Dolores Water Conservancy District
• Water District: 0
• County: Dolores
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

November 25, 1885, for a total of 1300 cfs to irrigate 84,497.5 acres of land
(based on a rate of 65 acres per second foot). The total right is subdivided as
follows:

absolute right for irrigation of 4600 AC . . .
conditional right whereby proof of beneficial
use must be provided before right can be
effective . . . . . . . . .

707.7 cfs

592.3 cfs
1300,0 cfs

Total

Further, M.V.I.C. has a decree dated December 22, 1933, allowing year-round use of

100 cfs for domestic stock water and industrial uses. Montezuma Water Co. is under

contract to purchase a 10 cfs block of this right, although actual ownership has

not been transferred. If conditions prevent a direct diversion of the water, 10

cfs must be released from Groundhog Reservoir to meet Montezuma Water Co. require-

ments. Montezuma Water District No. 1 obtains raw water for its domestic system

from M.V.I.C. in proportion to the 200 shares (approx. 2.5 cfs) owned by the

district. The Ute Mountain Indians also own 200 shares of M.V.I,C. stock which

they plan to use as a source of raw water for the Towaoc Area. The M.V.I.C. has

absolute storage rights in Groundhog, Narraguinnep and Totten Reservoirs, having

a combined capacity of 44,100 acre-feet.

Bureau of Reclamation project plans are based on an agreement between the Montezuma

Valley Irrigation Company and Dolores Water Conservancy District providing that the

company will not significantly expand its agricultural uses of water under existing

rights. The irrigation company has entered into the agreement in order to permit

project development. Details of the agreement are presented in the "Definite Plan

Report",2/ dated April 1977, Chapter VI, page 67, as follows:

"Rights of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company are senior to all project rights.

The Dolorea Water Conservancy District and the irrigation company are negotiating

an operating agreement that would establish the volume of water that the company

would divert under its existing rights and thereby ensure an adequate water supply

for the project. Under the agreement, the company would have the opportunity to

-35-