WSP08080

• File Number: 8443
• Description: Narrows Unit
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 5/2/1967
• Author: Woodward-Clyde Shera
• Title: Section II Special Investigation for the Coordinator of Natural Resources State of Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

I

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the Secretary of the Morgan-Prewitt Reservoir Company (the nephew

of John L. Samples, the Water Commissioner). With the exception
noted, the Prewitt Operating Committee records kept by Alex Michel

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are similar to the meticulous records kept by John W. "Bill"

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Samples for the Bijou system.

Prewitt Reservoir rights are recalculated periodically during

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the irrigation season, since leakage reduces the water available

in the reservoir. Thus, a farmer calling for his Prewitt right

early in the season will receive more water than if he waits

until later in the season.

However, inspection of the records showed that during the
1966 season the water available for each Morgan-Prewitt Reservoir

Company share had remained constant at 16 acre-feet per share

throughout the season. In the case of the "river exchange" shares

this would mean that a farmer taking one of those shares would have

been entitled to withdraw a full 16 acre-feet from the river,

inasmuch as there supposedly is no "river shrink" on this type of

exchange.

7. Schneider Ditch

The Schneider Ditch headgate is located on the south side of

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the river a few miles downstream from Merino. It has early direct

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flow priorities for 11 c/f/s dated 1873, 18.10 c/f/s dated 1875,
and 15.93 c/f/s dated 1880.

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8. Sterling "No.1" Ditch
The Sterling Ditch, more commonly known as the Sterling No.1
Ditch, is owned and operated by the Sterling Irrigation Company,

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a mutual irrigation company. About 10,000 acres are irrigated by

it, under a very senior direct flow priority for 113.9 c/f/s,

WOODWARD.CtYDE.$HfRARD AND ASSOCIATES