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The Amity Mutual Irrigation Company 1492- -Pl'esident's Repol't To The Amity Mutual Irrigation Company TO THE llffiECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS: The season 1968 proved to be a very satisfact>ry water year, In spite of prospects that looked the opposite. Early water from John Martin Reservoir and some carryover in the Great Plains together with timely rains and some snow water kept most crops growing, Rains above John Martin produced storage in June, July and August for short periods. The open winter with very little precipitation left our soU dry and this same mild weather permitted extensive use of direct flow for irrigation above John Martin. As a consequence only 20,658 a.f. d. water was stored in John Martin after November 1st, 7,436 ai. from the Purgatorle and 13,220 Crom the Arkansas. During this time 193,400 a.f. was diverted from the Arkansas above John Martin, 143,590 ai. in District 17 and 49,870 al. in District 14, mostly ror direct irrigation. Storage in the Great Plains through the Ft. Lyon was less than 6,000 aJ. 14,999 a.t. was carried over in John Martin from Oct. 31st so with the winter storage, 42,947 a.f. was available April 1st, Mlich was called immediately by both Kansas and Colorado. The Heservoir was declared dry April 21st. No solution has been found to Ute flooding of our canal after severe raips in the Big Bend and Wiley section from the irrigated lands north of Lamar. Drain ditches have been enlarged over the years and they conduct the runoff very quickly to the Amity Canal. County bridges often control the volumn that our Canal will carry, especially if debris is involved. Mr. Rogers, our attorney, explains in his report the action initiated to work out some satisfactory solution to the problem. The Company equipment was kept busy with normal maintenance. The water fluctuation in the Amity proved annoying at times for both irrigators and emplo,yees. Because of the public concern regarding the importance and econonrlc value of water IxJth now and in the future. many things are happening on the Arkansas River that will affect the administration and value of our water rights. Some of them are discussed brieny in this report. In accordance with the water study bill passed by 1967 legislation Engineering studies have been made ri water rights and historical div_ ersions of surface rights from the Arkansas River. Elaborate reports tending to show a very poor administration of waters Wlder present laws. Many proposals have been made that are intended to improve disbrlbution and to make full use of both surface and ground water. Hearings on pro- posed legislation have been held in many places and a number of these proposals have already been Introduced in the legislature. One which would cause trouble for any down stream appropriator is Paragraph 2, Section 2 or Senate Bill #21. Page 3