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.~ ----.._- - . -80- senior to the North Sterling. Osborne feels that this was bad practice and believes that the North Sterling should exercise some restraint, as does the Riverside, in making its "call". In order to prevent this problem, Barr Lake "draws all of the water it can" and the Riverside lets enough water go by its diversion works to fill the North Sterling, even though the Riverside is thereby forfeiting part of its priority. This pre- vents the North Sterling from placing a "call" on the river. Osborne believes that by operating in this fashion he will almost always fill his 1907 decree, in addition to his 1902 decrees. This would mean that he would take about 57,000 acre-feet of water from the river on a "measured in" basis. He said that it is a calculated risk for the Riverside system but that he is convinced that in time it.pays off for them by reason of increased flow from upstream caused by the irrigation from Barr Lake and other junior reservoirs. He said that if they operated strictly on priorities "Barr Lake would be dry" and the Riverside would "go hog wild." By exercising some restraint the Riverside helps Barr Lake and everyone below Barr Lake. OSborne said that the farmers sometimes get angry and ask him why he does not exercise the 1907 priority at a time when Barr Lake and North Sterling are storing, even though their priorities are junior to 1907. He has to explain it to them and it is sometimes difficult. The Water Commissioners "know all about this system and go along with it because it helps everyone on the river" and more water is eventually turned on to the land under all of the systems. However, Osborne admits that it often makes people angry and confused. He stated that the storage season on the South Platte usually ~ , . . . . . WOODWARD.ClYDE.SHERARD AND ASSOCIA.1ES