PROJ00540

• Contract/PO #: C153697
• Contractor Name: Norwood, Town of and Norwood Water Commission
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 60
• County: San Miguel
• Bill Number: FSL
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

IV-21

I
I
I
I
:1
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

3.

Water Riqhts for Surface Diversions.

a. Farmers' Water Development Ditch Priority No. ~

General. The original appropriation for Priority
No. 214 was by the FarmerS' Water Development
Company and was for 1 cfs. The Town acquired 1/4
cfs by condemnation in 1936. As discussed below, it
apparently refers to springs that flow into Gurley
Reservoir below the water surface and which have
been observed at various times when the reservoir
was dewatered.

Historv. Priority No. 214 was appropriated in 1926
and adjudicated in 1933, which provided Farmers'
Water Development Companyia ditch right to convey 1
cubic foot per second (cf~). The decree refers to
conveyance of water supplied from 'No-Name Natural
Draw'. The ditch extended for 6 miles; work on the
ditch commenced on Dec. 1, 1900.

In 1935, the District Cou~t ordered and ruled that
the Town of Norwood had the right to take and use
the first 1/2 cfs of surf~ce, subsurface, seepage,
or spring water which floWed in Maverick Gulch at
the point of the Town's intake, which was in the
vicinity of the Town's pr~sent raw water reservoir
north of Gurley Reservoir and Gurley Canyon. The
order was temporary, pending the final conclusion of
court proceedings.

In 1936, the District court reached a final decision
and awarded the Town of Norwood the exclusive right
to take and use the firstil/4 cfs of Priority No.
214. The cost of this water right was set at $2500.

This court decision was later modified by Norwood
Water Right No. 513 (see Para. 4.a below).

Watershed Area. The decr~e states that the oriainal
point of diversion for Priority No. 214 is at the
north bank of Company Reservoir (Gurley Reservoir) ,
as l()cated on sections 25jand 36, T44N, RI3W. This
location is in the area covered by Gurley Reservoir.

Raulhers and sheepherders who have operated in the
wa~:,lrshed area have indic<!.ted that the only
significant springs and s$eps in this watershed are
within the current GurleYIReservoir. This would
suggest that Priority No. :214 derived its water from
springs under Gurley Reservoir or runoff from the
upper watershed. In 1977 when the reservoir was