By Periods of Below Normal Precipitation (Characterization Section, Climate)
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Little Butte Creek Watershed Analysis - Version 1. 2 Litt!e ButteCreek WaersedAnaysi Version 1.2CurrentConditions by periods of below normal precipitation (Characterization section, Climate). Many perennial, tributary streams in the Little Butte Creek Watershed have been drying up during summers in years with below normal precipitation. The greatest need for water occurs during the summer when demand for irrigation and recreation use is highest. There are serious geographical and seasonal deficiencies in water supply within the Little Butte Creek Watershed (OWRD 1989). Summer streamflows have been dramatically altered by transbasin diversions. Water is diverted from South Fork Little Butte Creek and its tributaries into collection canals that transport the water to Howard Prairie Reservoir in the Klamath River Basin. There are five points of diversion located on Conde Creek, Dead Indian Creek, South Fork Little Butte Creek, Daley Creek, and Beaver Dam Creek. A total of 62,000 acre- feet is allowed to be transferred out of the South Fork Little Butte Creek and its tributaries during the irrigation season. Water is diverted via the Cascade canal from Fourmile Lake in the Klamath River Basin to Fish Lake in North Fork Little Butte Creek analysis subwatershed. Outflows from Fish Lake are sent down North Fork Little Butte Creek to the confluence with South Fork Little Butte Creek where the water is diverted to the South Fork. From South Fork, water is diverted via irrigation ditches to supply Agate Lake with irrigation water for Bear Creek Watershed. Map 24 displays diversion point locations associated with places of use within the Little Butte Creek Watershed. Numerous diversions are concentrated in Lost Creek and the lower reaches of South Fork Little Butte Creek. The Lower Little Butte Creek analysis subwatershed has a large number of diversions located in Lake Creek, Salt Creek, Lick Creek, Antelope Creek, and along the main stem of Little Butte Creek. Figure 10 presents water right information obtained from the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD 1997) for each of the analysis subwatersheds and the total for the watershed. The majority of water right diversions in the Little Butte Creek Watershed are used for irrigation. 89 I---.