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' again be met. The outstandinq factor in the historic irrigation <br />, water use patterns is the extreme irregularity with which <br />irrigation shortages and abundances occur. For example, during <br />, the month of May on one year, th�= irrigation diversion was 728 <br />less than the ideal whereas during the same month of the following <br />' year the irrigation diversion exceeded the ideal by 760. The <br />consequences of having to apply water in such an erratic manner <br />' occur during the height of irrigation demand. The records show <br />tha�, during July, the Diversion for the upper thirteen ditches <br />sel�.�m exceeded or even met the ideal requirements and was <br />' occ:asionally as low as 78o below ideal. Likewise, the diversions <br />for the lower nine ditches fell as much as 58� short of ineeting <br />' the ideal during July. Regulating stream flows at the reservoir <br />will help alleviate these problems and provide more stable <br />' irrigation application. Monetary benefits to the irrigatiors <br />derived from this stream flow regulation have been estimated at <br />' $33.00 per acre annually as shown in Chapter VII. The ideal <br />requirements shown on Tables 12 & 13 are for meadow hay and <br />alfalfa type crops. Since these are essentially the major use <br />' for water. in the project area, no attempt was made t.o tabulate <br />requirements for other crops. Average precipitation values for <br />' the Yampa area are given on Table 1. <br />Note should be made that diversions and requirements for <br />' lands under Stillwater Ditch represent only that portion of <br />flows diverted from the Yampa River, which is slightly less <br />' than 2/3 of the total reguirement. Remaining requirements <br />are met by early season flows in Egeria Creek. <br />Shortages are partially offset by releases from Stillwater <br />' Reservoir, although there still remains an average shortaqe <br />of about 6,800 acre-feet annually for the lands within the <br />' irrigation service area. Shortages will vary f.rom practicalYy <br />nil some years to nearly 12,000 A. F. in others. Not all of the <br />' shortages are the result of seasonal inadequacy, but of short <br />term stream fluctuation, either daily or weekly, which often <br />' results in having the lower priorities cut off when flow drops <br />and being unable to start them again if flow rises. <br />, <br />IV - 7 <br />' <br />