The Lamar register., 1906-11-28
FINE SEASON.! BIG CROPS.
Water Commissioners E. M. Mears'
Annual Report.

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also canal improvements we are able
to publish in full through the courte-
sy of the Commissioner for Water
District No. 81, E. M, Mears, and it
contains many facts worth reading:
Lamar, Colo, Nov. 13, 1905.
John M. jackson, Esq,
Irrigation Division Engin eer,
Dear Sir:
I am sending you herewith my
tabulated report for the irrigation
season Of 1906.
Inasmuch as my appointment to
position of Water Commissioner took
place late as Sept. 9th, and there
being no detailed information left by
my predecessor, 1 can only refer in
general way to the conditions in dis
trict No. 81 during the past season.
WATER SUPPLY
In no season during the last ten
years has the flow of the Arkansas
River been more favorable to the If
rigation interests of District No 81.
There have been many years in the
past in which the entire discharge of
the river has been very much great
er than that of this year, and when
at certain times in these years there
has been crying demand for and
great scarcity of water. The total
discharge of the river this season has
perhaps been below normal, but it
has been SO evenly distributed
throughout the year that there has
always been plenty of water to fully
meet the demands of irrigation.
There have been no high and danger
ous floods, the maximum discharge
not exceeding 10000 cubic feet per
second at any time, and the surplus,
other than seepage or return water,
passing out of the district has been
less than in any previous year of
record. The Purgatoire river, as
usual, has done this district good
service although it's flow has been
very much below normal. Other
tributrries between the Fort Lyon
headgste and the State line have
contributed small amounts of water.
The amount of rainfall throughout
the district has been above normal
and the precipitation occurred at
times when the greatest need exist
ed. This, together with the plenti-
full and evenly distributed supply
from the river, provided sufficient
moisture to all growing crops, and
tended to greatly reduce the length
of the irrigating season, or the per-
iod of actual demand for water. At
this time of year, with such mild
and open weather as we have been
experiencing, there is usually a
strong demand for water for all ir-
rigation. At present, however, there
is practically no demand and the sur
plus water is passing into Kansas.
Throughout the last two months
there has been a plentiful supply Of
storage water for the reservoirs of
the A. V. s. B. & I. L. Co. The two
larger reservoirs, Neegronda and
Neenoshe, are practically full with
about 10000 acre feet of available
water for next season. In addition
to this there are about 1900 acre
feet available in the Queen reservoir.
The present indications are that
there will be considerably more
water stored from now until the end
Of the current year, and indeed
should the weather remain open it
is very far from improbable that the
reservoirs of this company will be
full to overdowing before there is
again any demand upon them for
water for irrigation. When we con-
slider that there is enough water at
present in these reservoirs to much
more than irrigate the 10000 or
more acres in cultivation under the
Amity Canal next year even if the
direct supply from the river was en-
tirely cut of, we cannot but be i'm
pressed by the extraordinary value
of the conserved flood and surplus
waters of the Arkansas river MIR.
Thomas Berry, Chief engineer OF the
A. V. s. B. & l. L. Co., informs me
that at no time in the past has the
duty of reservoir water, to supple
ment the direct supply of the Amity
canal hoon uraator than O. rs of an