The District's overall current stored water supply is at 71%, we were anticipating reaching 75%, but we may fall a little short of that. The natural stream flows are doing very well, well enough to hold up until at least mid June before storage will have to be used to supplement flows.

All the reservoirs are currently gaining except Emigrant. Fourmile is at a rapid daily gain due to snow melt. Management is pleased to be reporting this up-turn of projected water supply for this season as we know it looked pretty bleak a few months ago.

The field staff is currently making water deliveries although slow due to the wet weather, this has given them a chance to mow the weeds on the ditch banks and finish cleaning and augering the waterlines.. Mechanical moss cleaning will begin soon. The Cascade Cananl needs it's usual cleaning of debris (fallen trees and limbs) as soon as the snow melts enough.

The District's water supply has increased this spring enough to have regular water rotations if patrons can conserve when watering and the weather does not produce above average temperatures this summer. The District's over all supply should reach 70-75%.

The field staff continued cleaning ditches and doing necessary repairs to begin the water season(May 3rd).

We have experienced very welcomed rain and snowfall this past month, which increased all the natural stream flow during the later part of March. Frost protection was regulated by Oregon Water Resources Department on March 18th for the South Fork of Little Butte. Thru all this, the District managed to have enough water to frost protect the orchards. The storage reservoirs have gained this past month but not as much as needed. The snow pack at Fourmile has shown the most hope for a decent melt to increase storage and that will not totally show until late May or early June. No matter what, at this point in time water deliveries will be stretched out in order to make it thru September.

The District continues to divert water from South Fork and the North Fork of Little Butte Creek for Rogue River Valley Irrigation District to fill Agate Lake. The lack of natural stream flows in all the tributaries that flow into the Little Butte System and Bear Creek have left these major creeks extrememly low for this time of year, mimicking the 2005 scenario. Frost protection waters are of great concern since South Fork is its major source and rights. Management has been preparing for a possible shortage of frost water since Agate is not full yet and has priority rights.. Next week we plan to carry the frost water allowed through the canal into the valley. Frost water cannot be diverted to the West Side from the Bear Creek until April 1st.

Canal maintenance and cleaning has been the major work this past month. Agate Lake was not gaining storage due to very low flows in Dry Creek all winter; in this case we have begun diverting water from Little Butte Creek at North Fork. The snow pack remains below normal with 50" currently at Fourmile and 15" at Fish Lake. All the reservoirs including the "South" are below the 2009 storage amounts.

The 2010 water user statements were mailed out January 5th, due in the office February 26, 2010. Following the holidays the field crew has resumed working on the extensive maintenance lists that is compiled every year.

Snow depths at Fourmile and Fish Lake are considerably lower so far this year than they were in January last year,2009. Fourmile Reservoir had 53" and Fish Lake had 58" compared to 29" and 12" this year

This past month emphasis was put on work with planned projects. On the West Main canal a drain was installed and a section down stream that leaked was repaired with gunite lining. Several other repairs such as a leaking gate,bridge repair,blackberry and brush cleaning and the Fish Lake inspection. Equipment repairs have also been done this past month. We have about 70 miles of main canal to clean this winter besides all the laterals.