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<br />C0019~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Allocation of lost water to runoff and deep seepage <br /> <br />No attempt was made to determine whether lost water ran off or whether it <br /> <br /> <br />went into deep seepage. On the flatter lands it is probable that most lost <br /> <br /> <br />water goes into seepage or is evaporated. This is because if it is reused by <br /> <br /> <br />the farmer, it probably goes into a borrow pit, and only those fields on <br /> <br />the edge of an irrigated area would have runoff into another area. On <br /> <br /> <br />the steeper lands this may not be the case. There is some evidence in the <br /> <br /> <br />study area that water passes on down the hillside and is collected in the <br /> <br /> <br />next lower irrigation canal. The amount of direct reuse of this type is <br /> <br /> <br />a refinement that should be worked into the model as soon as the quantities <br /> <br />can be better identified. <br /> <br />Canal and reservoir system efficiencies <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Most of the canal systems and one of the three reservoirs in the <br /> <br /> <br />study reach overlie the South Platte alluvium. Seepage losses from these <br /> <br />result in an immediate recharge to the aquifer, This has been effectively <br /> <br /> <br />shown by the monitoring of ground-water levels in the vicinity of the <br /> <br />Sand Hill lateral of the South Platte Ditch in a demonstration recharge <br /> <br /> <br />project (Colorado Division of Water Resources, 1977). However, portions <br /> <br />of the North Sterling Reservoir Inlet canal, the North Sterling Reservoir <br /> <br /> <br />itself, and nearly all of the outlet canal overlie other geologic forma- <br /> <br /> <br />tions (Pierre shale, White River group and the Ogallala formation). Also, <br /> <br /> <br />portions of the Julesburg Reservoir inlet canal, the Julesburg Reservoir <br /> <br /> <br />itself and all of the Highline Canal overlie the White River group and/or <br /> <br /> <br />the Ogallala formation. These formations, in general, have lower per- <br /> <br /> <br />meabilities than does the alluvium. <br /> <br />Very little published information on canal and reservoir losses or <br /> <br /> <br />system efficiencies in the study reach are available, Therefore, canal <br /> <br /> <br />and reservoir company personnel were interviewed to obtain information <br /> <br /> <br />on their systems, Those interviewed were: <br /> <br />Paris Accomasso - <br />Charles Barttlett - <br />Bud Bonesteel - - - <br /> <br />- Davis Bros, & Schneider ditches <br />South Platte Ditch <br />Julesburg Irrig. District, including <br />Harmony No.1, Settlers and Peterson <br />ditches <br />Don Demers- - - - - - - Ramsey Ditch <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-34- <br />