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<br />- 13 - <br /> <br />Water Management <br /> <br />The principal problems involving water management include: <br />(1) a need for improved irrigation water management for indiv:l.ciulill <br />farms and ranches,- (2) irrigation water supply that is frequently. <br />inadequate during the latter part of the growing season due to' the <br />overuse of water in the early part of the season, (3) losses of water <br />from a main canal system in need of structural improvement and re- <br />placement, and (4) reduction of floodwat.erand sediment damages to <br />canals and lands from runoff above the canal. . <br /> <br />Water for the irrigated lands has been delivered through the <br />30-mile long Pine River Canal since the 1870's. The' canal capacity <br />varies from 271 c.f.s., including 40 c.i.s. of water for the Indian <br />Canal, and 60 c.f.s. for the Spring Creek Ditch Company, down to 11 <br />c.f.s. at its end near the New Mexico border. Few, if any, .of the <br />original structures remain, most having been replaced at least twice. <br />Since wooden structures of redwood and cypress are used in all but <br />the most recent drops, flumes, and siphons, excessive leakage and a <br />reduction of capacity occur in most of the structures needing <br />replacement. . <br /> <br />Under existing conditions, a large number of structures need <br />replacement to alleviate loss of service, loss of wa~er, inadequate <br />canal capacity for peak flow demands, poor measurement of water, and <br />inadequate access for distribution and maintenance. The sponsors <br />definitely need assistance in the rehabilitation of ~he system, <br />together with improved management of the delivery an4 application of <br />water allotments to the land. <br /> <br />All but two of the present channel crossings are wooden flumes <br />extremely subject to storm damage from flood flows, channel erosion, <br />or flood debris. Three of these flumes were damaged in 1964, causing <br />about two and one-half weeks interruption of irrigation services while <br />repairs were being made. Diversion boxes and measuring devices are <br />both deteriorated and inadequate to provide accurate. water measure- <br />ment to all users. The canal needs rehabilitation below some of the <br />structures. Better access to some sections of the cjinal is needed. <br /> <br />Even under these conditions the water supply is usually adequate <br />except in successive drouth years. Vallecito Reservoir storage <br />together with direct diversion on the Los Pinos River makes up the <br />total supply. <br /> <br />Subsurface drainage is not a significant problem in this <br />watershed. Small localized areas having problems are being handled <br />