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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />0'215G <br /> <br />Arkansas Valley that have an adequate water supply. However, there <br /> <br />are two ditches that have senior rights which divert water In excess <br /> <br /> <br />of the normally established optimum irrigation requirements. One <br /> <br /> <br />of these ditches is located immediately downstream from Pueblo and <br /> <br /> <br />has a water right with priorities in the early 1860's. Diversions <br /> <br /> <br />by the canal average approximately 6 acre-feet per season and on <br /> <br /> <br />occasions have exceeded 12 acre-feet. The effect of over-diversion <br /> <br /> <br />for this system is primarily to the detriment of the water users <br /> <br /> <br />under the system. Over-diversion leaches soluble fertll izers and <br /> <br /> <br />desirable soil nutrients, usually for the benefit of downstream <br /> <br /> <br />appropriators. Excess diversions which are not consumed by evapotrans- <br /> <br /> <br />piration eventually return to the system, although there may be a <br /> <br /> <br />time delay. <br /> <br />The other right Is located between La Junta and Las Animas. <br /> <br /> <br />It also has a very senior priority, and due to its location can create <br /> <br /> <br />a partlculai"ly adverse affect on the river system. During periods <br /> <br /> <br />when there is water in John Martin Reservoir or when the priority <br /> <br /> <br />calls on the river are particularly low, this canal is almost always <br /> <br /> <br />entitled to divert due to its senior priority. Return flows either <br /> <br /> <br />go into John Martin Reservoir for which Colorado receives only a <br /> <br /> <br />partial credit; or, helps to a limited degree to satisfy the senior <br /> <br /> <br />downstream rights near Lamar. Furthermore, during low flows in the <br /> <br />Arkansas River, it often times requires as much as 50 cfs of water to <br /> <br /> <br />be bypassed at La Junta to supply 32 cfs to this right. The canal <br /> <br /> <br />has, on accaslon, diverted as high as 14 acre-feet of water per acre, <br /> <br /> <br />per irrigation season. Excessive diversions by this canal are also <br /> <br /> <br />adverse to the farmers operating under" it. Due to the relative low <br /> <br /> <br />permeabil ity of the farm land, a perched water table is created that <br /> <br /> <br />does not permit the leaching of undesirable salts and a general <br /> <br /> <br />maintenance of proper soil tilth. Root zones are 1 imlted and plants do <br /> <br /> <br />not have the vigor that they would normally have with an enlarged <br /> <br /> <br />root system. <br /> <br />-4- <br />