WSP00415

• File Number: 8103
• Description: Arkansas river Basin Legislation
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/31/1968
• Author: W W Wheeler and Asso
• Title: Coordinator of Natural Resources - State of Colorado - Exhibits on Water Legislation Investigations for the Arkansas River Basin - Volume IV --January 31 1968
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ever recorded up to that time. This illustrates the desirability

as well as the necessity of having a controlled water supply if the

greatest benefits are to be derived from our water resources.

Another canal during this same drouth year also had a short

water supply, but the beet crop was good and the sugar content was

high. The next year, copious quantities of water were available to

this canal and the tendency to over Irrigate because of a possible

shortage In the future was followed. In this year of copious supply,

the beet tonnage per acre was slightly above average but the sugar

content of the beets was far less than In the drouth year. What I

am trying to pinpoint is that under the appropriation doctrine, canals

having junior rights divert large quantities of water when It is avail-

able, and the farmers over-Irrigate automatically in an attempt to

keep ahead of the time when the junior rights will not produce the

water required to maintain the optimum soil moisture. This procedure

is detrimental in that crop production suffers through over-application

of water just as it does with a shortage of water, and this points

up again the need for a regulated and/or dependable supply. It

should be realized that the excessive appl icatlon of water during

the snow melt season and sometimes during rain floods Is not necessarily

a waste of water as the excessive water becomes a part of the ground

water resources, returns to the stream and becomes available for

diversion and use by others needing water.

Another practice which has been developed in the Arkansas

River Basin because of the short supply is winter Irrigation. This

practice is beneficial to a degree. It Is believed that the storage

of winter water and its release at more opportune times such as early

In the spring before the snow melts to condition the seed beds and

later on during critical periods of crop growth would be a far greater

beneficial use of water. If the winter irrigation practice is cur-

tailed or eliminated, the regimen of the stream flow will be altered

because part of the water appl led In the winter returns to the stream

and becomes available for later use.

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