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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I !\-...,~o .j ... 'J".J) Water Supply First Use of the Companies' Water The priority dates of the major storage decrees of the Companies range from 1885 to 1911 (see Appendix A). These are senior storage rights, but are relatively junior to other South Platte River direct flow rights between Denver and Greeley. As a result, the Companies divert water during the winter months and hold it in storage until required for irrigation in the summer months. The long term average diversions into the Burlington-O'Brian Canal are in excess of 100,000 acre feet of water per year. The historic low flow into the canal in the 1954 drought (water year 1955) was 45,022 acre feet. The average year diversion is approximately the same amount of water which was projected to be derived from the Two Forks project. The Companies' water is presently called past most municipal users. Permitting the first use of the Companies' water by upstream municipalities can result in a substantial increase of municipal water without construction of new facilities. Appendix B contains data and graphs illustrating historical diversions and releases. The ability of the Companies to transfer their first use water to municipal users, and the ability to make available the storage in Barr Lake and the Beebe Draw alluvium, hinges on the suitable improvement in the quality of water discharged from Metro. The point of Metro discharge is the strategic location for payback in South Platte River exchanges. Viability of all exchanges is becoming increasingly dependant upon water quality (discussed in detail later). !fMetro effluent discharges were of sufficient quality, the Companies could irrigate with the constant flow of effluent from Metro. The customary discharge (about 100 cfspd) is generally 6