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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />WATER RIGHTS ADMINISTRATION <br /> <br />t'.::;J <br /> <br />C-'; <br /> <br />(:J Even though the most immediate concern was the potential for flooding, <br />-.J <br />~ the water rights of Colorado users and the obligations of the Colorado-Kansas <br />m <br /> <br />compact had to be administered equitably during this period. The, Division Engineer <br /> <br />had to balance the need to monitor and project flood conditions (and the public <br /> <br />safety), with the requirements to provide water rights holders their entitlements <br /> <br />of water. With prior knowledge of July 27-28 conditions, as well as current con- <br /> <br />ditions on the 29th, the Division Engineer undertook to balance these complex <br /> <br />requirements by closing Pueblo Resevoir for storage, opening the river for safe <br /> <br />downstream diversions, and maintaining high flows at Avondale during the 29th and <br /> <br />30th. As high flows receeded, the Division Engineer "fine tuned" releases from <br /> <br />Pueblo Resevoir, thereby keeping an efficient, but safe, flow of waters to down- <br /> <br />stream users, including Kansas. <br /> <br />Locally, the Water Commissioner in Las Animas was able to track by <br /> <br />terminal the upriver peaks and flows of the Arkansas and advise and prepare canal <br /> <br />operators well in advance of the need for action. At the canal sites instrumented <br /> <br />with COMSAT General equipment, the precise flows off the river were recorded and <br /> <br />were available for inspection within minutes or hours. The potential for active <br /> <br />management of canal systems are just being recognized and tested. We believe that <br /> <br />the satellite-linked system of water monitoring can form the basis for a true <br /> <br />"water accounting" service in the near future. <br /> <br />-6- <br />