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. BASALT PROJECT HATER SUPPLY ..., t " ,'.- '-', .. ... <.\: ,J " diverting from the river and for senior downstream rights, (2) for trans- basin diversions by the Fryingpan-Arkansas project, and (3) for storage in Ruedi Reservoir. Thus no natural flows of the river were considered to be usable by the Basalt project. Cattle, Coulter, and Mesa Creeks drain relatively low watersheds with southern and western exposures. The vegetative cover consists of scrub oak, pinion pine, and juniper. Consequently, the ru.llOff occurs early and is of short duration. Coulter and ~esa Creek flows are esti- mated to be completely utilized at present and the flow during the irri- gation season is assumed to equal diversions plus return flow. Sopris and Prince Creeks drain higher watersheds with less exposure to the sun and better vegetative cover, These creeks are believed, there- fore, to have a higher yield of water in proportion to their drainage areas and flo,Ts of longer duration than do Cltttle and Coulter Creeks, Monthly streamflow data used in project ,-rater supply studies are tabulated on the four following pages. 1'hese include (1) flows of Cattle Creek near Carbondale, Colo.; (2) estimated combined flows of Cattle, Coulter, and Mesa Creeks; (3) adjusted total diversions from Cattle, Coul- ter, and Mesa Creeks under preproject conditions; and (4) estj~ated return . flows from Cattle, Coulter, and Mesa Creeks under preproject conditions. Quality of water Most of the project water would be obtained from high watersheds and uncloubtedly would be of excellent quality for irrigation. Even the water from the lower drainage areas has been demonstrated by past use to be suitable. Chemical analyses of water sources were not made in connection with project reconnaissance studies. Irrigation Diversion Requirements The amount of water required for project irrigation was determined by the Blaney-Criddle method.Y Climatological data from weather stations at Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colo., were used in the computations. Allowances were made for consumptive~use requirements that could be sup- plied from precipitation in determining the remaining requirement to be met from irrigation. The net irrigation requirement on the land was increased to allow for water losses on the farm and conveyance losses on the basis of irrigation experience in comparable areas, The derivation 1/ Blaney, Harry F., and Cri ddle, j<iayne D., "Det.ermining ,later Requirements in Irrigated Areas from Climatological Data," published by Soil Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture, August 1950. . 22