WSP00691

• File Number: 8142.700
• Description: Trinidad Project - Annual Operating Plans and Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 12/1/1996
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Review of Operating Principles and Project Operations Final Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Operating Principles/Plan

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

," C"i,'~."
''OJ',)

and Kansas water users. Similar water exchanges in the amount of 8489 acre feet occurred

during the review period without interference to the District water supply and without increased

depletions to downstream water users. The equal volume exchange at Trinidad Reservoir and the

Las Animas gauge is potentially a benefit to Arkansas River water users downstream of John

Martin Reservoir due to the potentially large differences in water conveyance losses in the

Purgatoire River from Trinidad Reservoir to its mouth and in the Arkansas River from the Las

Animas gauge to the mouth of the Purgatoire River. The exchange should be modified to account

for the differences in the conveyance losses to the mouth of the Purgatoire River.

D. The releases for stockwater did not result in storage in excess of20,000 acre feet on

anyone day in the Model Storage right in water year 1992 including carryover nor did the

accumulated storage exceed the single filling limitation of20,000 acre feet per water year in water

year 1992 under Reclamation's inteI1Jretation of the operating principles. Although the amount of

water released from Trinidad Reservoir for stock water during the review period did not exceed

1500 acre feet in any water year, the stockwater allowance including river gains from Trinidad

Dam to the Trinidad gauge as measured at the Trinidad gauge in accordance with the operating

principles exceeded 1500 acre feet in 1985 (1645 AF) and 1992 (1544 AF) during the review

period. The stock water allowance for the Hoehne Ditch Company was terminated and

transferred to the District water supply through litigation; therefore, the stockwater allowance

should be reduced to 1200 acre feet measured at the Trinidad gauge.

E. The total acreage irrigated with the District water supply did not exceed 19717 acres

during the review period. A Reclamation survey in 1985 showed 19385 acres being irrigated and

a District survey conducted in 1994 showed 19395 acres being irrigated. Both surveys showed

31