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This Guideline is superseded by "Guideline 2019-03 - Reservoir Accounting Guideline" <br />COLORADO <br />Division of Water Resources <br />Dep yrtment of Nabwal Rewurm <br />RESERVOIR ACCOUNTING GUIDELINE <br />Division of Water Resources <br />Division One — South Platte River <br />This Guideline addresses issues of accounting for stored water. The guideline describes <br />how the Division Engineer for Water Division One (the "Division") intends to administer <br />reservoir operations so as to confirm that vested water rights are not impacted by the <br />reservoir. It serves as a guide to reservoir administration when decrees do not <br />specifically address the issue of accounting. It is based upon the system of prior <br />appropriation and the doctrines of vested rights and maximum beneficial use. While this <br />guideline is subordinate to any decree language addressing specific accounting <br />requirements, it generally addresses the minimum standards the Division Engineer <br />requires for such accounting. <br />Annual Operations <br />The Division uses a single, twelve-month period to administer the storage of water. <br />Unless otherwise specified by decree or approved by the Division Engineer, the <br />twelve-month period begins on November 1 and ends the following October 31. The <br />start of the twelve-month period, once set, will not be changed from year to year. <br />Exempt Reservoirs <br />2. The Division Engineer or Water Commissioner may issue a written determination <br />that certain reservoirs or reservoir operations, such as irrigation only reservoirs <br />where water is stored and then released solely for the purpose of irrigation, <br />regulating reservoirs, or other reservoir operations specifically identified by the <br />Water Commissioner, should not be subject to these Guidelines. <br />General Data Requirements <br />3. The purpose of a reservoir is to store water for later use, generally in accordance <br />with a decree of the court. In order to properly account for the volume of water <br />allowed into storage and the amount of water that must pass through the reservoir, <br />the Division requires the information listed below to be recorded on a daily basis and <br />submitted to the Division at least monthly: <br />a. The volume of releases under the dominion and control of the reservoir <br />owner/operator. For the sake of brevity, this data will be referred to as the <br />"controlled release". <br />b. The volume of water in storage. This is accomplished by a single stage <br />(gauge rod) reading and referring to a stage -area -capacity table that is <br />specific to the reservoir for determining capacity. The daily stage can be read <br />manually or by a recorder, although it should occur at the same time every <br />day to reflect a true daily (24 hour) value. <br />November 14, 2018 Page 1 <br />