Laserfiche WebLink
<br />f; f. ": O. .( <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br />5. Outflow from Water Districts 3, 4, 5, and 6 has increased relative <br />to the natural supply to the Districts, principally as a result of the addition <br />of Colorado-Big Thompson Project water. Thus, the net effect of changes within <br />the Districts during the past 20 years has been of benefit to downstream water <br />users ratber than a detriment. The increase in outlfow is particularly sig~ <br />nificant from the Cache la Poudre and Big Thompson Basins. <br /> <br />6. With few exceptions, irrigation wells in Water District 3 are used <br />to supplement surface supplies. The amount of water pumped varies inversely <br />with the availability of surface water. Replenishment of water withdrawn <br />occurs incidental to surface irrigation (seepage from ditches and over- <br />irrigation) without facilities specifically constructed for this purpose. <br />This type of "accidental" operation has been working remarkably well, but <br />it is believed that planned utilization of the groundwater reservoir under- <br />lying parts of Water District 3 could hlrther alleviate shortages and stabilize <br />supplies. Such planned utilization may require an even greater amount of <br />groundwater pumping during certain periods of time in order to reduce calls <br />on upstream water users and/or to satisfy downstream demands. Consideration <br />must also be given to the compensation of those who may be injured by such' <br />operations, and provisions for replenishment of groundwater during periods <br />of favorable runoff must be made. <br /> <br />7. Study of diversions by ditches in Water District 3 which are heavily <br />dependent upon return flow revealed no decline in diversions which could be <br />attributed to increased groundwater utilization. In fact, these ditches, in <br />general, nave experienced an increased availability of water under their <br />decrees during August and September of recent years. Many factors influence <br />the amount of water available at a par t icular time and place. Besides <br />the variable hydrologic conditions, changes in the character, pattern and <br />efficiency of water use, importations, and groundwater utilization may all <br />have important effects. Obviously the changes in use and importations have <br />had a greater influence in Water District 3 than has groundwater pumping, <br />al though it should be understood that the groundwater utilization could be <br />carried to an extreme that would adversely affect other water users. <br /> <br />8. As in other areas, there is a tendency to apply water in excess <br />of crop nfreds during the early part of the growing season. This is water <br />that, in SDme years, would be of considerably more value during July and <br />August if it had been stored rather than used directly. At least a part <br />of this problem is caused by outside influences, i.e., calls by downstream <br />ditches early in the season which cut short the storage season in the upper <br />areas. <br /> <br />9. Rules or agreements for operation which would be beneficial to the <br />Water Districts under study include an agreement with water users in lower <br />Wa t e r Districts which would allow some continuation of surface storage <br />in the upper regions after the lower ditches go to direct irrigation and <br />place calls against the upper districts. Such calls often result in water <br />users applying irrigation water before needed in order to keep the <br />water. Again, planned utilization of the grourlowater reservoir to provide <br />compensation to the downstream users may be an important part of this <br />agreement. , <br /> <br />L <br /> <br />:';. ,AI".m'_= <br /> <br />~~.ii <br />