08-31-2022, 03:55 PM
The DWR own's a "secondary" right conservation pool at Minersville. In order to "claim" that c-pool the reservoir must fill past a certain level. If the reservoir doesn't fill past that point, then the c-pool isn't available. So, in poor winters with little runoff we never reclaim that pool, and the agriculture rights are allowed to drain the reservoir as far as they 'need'.
The question is: do they need to drain it dry?
Past water masters recognized the challenges with getting Minersville re-filled in the spring after allowing it to be drained below certain levels. Right now, the Beaver is running at 21cfs at Beaver -- but 0 at Minersville. Historically, the big challenge is getting water past Beaver to the lake -- a FAST spring thaw where the Beaver quickly runs high and flows past all the ditches faster than they can take it out, is ideal for filling the lake. Once that is over, water simply doesn't make it to the reservoir due to upstream diversions and use. That's a fight as old as Rocky Ford has been around.
The new master, no matter how good of a person he might be, and no matter what his "employers" are asking him to currently do, might regret drawing the reservoir down as low as he is. He's hurting those water users future use. So, while we might be getting a 4th cut of alfalfa this year, we might only get 2 cuts next year.
There is value in keeping water in the lake, and it isn't only value to fishermen.
The question is: do they need to drain it dry?
Past water masters recognized the challenges with getting Minersville re-filled in the spring after allowing it to be drained below certain levels. Right now, the Beaver is running at 21cfs at Beaver -- but 0 at Minersville. Historically, the big challenge is getting water past Beaver to the lake -- a FAST spring thaw where the Beaver quickly runs high and flows past all the ditches faster than they can take it out, is ideal for filling the lake. Once that is over, water simply doesn't make it to the reservoir due to upstream diversions and use. That's a fight as old as Rocky Ford has been around.
The new master, no matter how good of a person he might be, and no matter what his "employers" are asking him to currently do, might regret drawing the reservoir down as low as he is. He's hurting those water users future use. So, while we might be getting a 4th cut of alfalfa this year, we might only get 2 cuts next year.
There is value in keeping water in the lake, and it isn't only value to fishermen.