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

purchase 13,700 acre-feet of supplemental irrigation water annually from the project

to alleviate the irrigation shortages that occur during the late season under present

conditions. The agreement would limit the annual irrigation diversions of non-

project water to a maximum of 150,400 acre-feet, which is the computed ideal require-

ment for the 37,500 acres now irrigated (including 11,200 acres classified as non-

arable by the Bureau of Reclamation). The irrigation company could also divert up

to 3,000 acre-feet annually for domestic and stock use. Not more than 72,000 acre-

feet could be diverted in April, May, and June, when McPhee Reservoir would be

filling."

I

I

I

I

Supplemental irrigation water purchased by the irrigation company (averaging 13,700

acre-feet annually) may vary in actual amount from 0 to 58,800 acre-feet.

I

Project water is allocated for municipal and industrial use based on the requests

previously identified. According to the bureau report, municipal and industrial

water would be fully supplied each of the 46 years that operation of McPhee Reservoir

5/*
is simulated.- This includes both the existing flow right and the supplemental

supply of 8700 acre-feet requested.

I

I

I

I

Cortez and Dolores both have existing water rights on the Dolores River as follows:

Cortez - 4.2 second feet, Dolores - 1 second foot. In addition, the City of Cortez

has a five-year contract with Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company for up to 5.8

second feet of water during peak summer periods. This contract will be discontinued

when project water becomes available. Dove Creek diverts raw water directly out of

the Dolores River, and has total water rights of 1.29 cfs (.70 cfs absolute).

I

I

Montezuma Water Company has existing water rights from the following sources:

1. Ten cfs have been purchased from MVIC with reserve storage in Groundhog

Reservoir. This right is currently being converted to domestic use.

2. One cfs direct flow right from the Dolores River, in two-1/2 cfs senior

decrees,

3. One cfs junior decree absolute & 3 cfs junior decree conditional from

the Dolores River.

4. From wells located in Lost Canyon Creek, 0.89 cfs absolute and 0.32 cfs

conditional rights.

I

I

I

I

I

*Page,7l

-36-