Wyoming State Water Plan, Wyoming Water Development Office
Rafting on Snake River Lake Marie, Snowy Mountains Wyoming Wind River Range picture

Bear River Basin Water Plan
Technical Memoranda

SUBJECT: Appendix D
Key Structures and Diversions
ALONZO F. SIGHTS DIVERSION

PREPARED BY: Bear River Basin Planning Team

DATE: August 7, 2000









Diversion Description: The Alonzo F. Sights diversion structure consists of a concrete chute 
with wing walls and a 65-inch wide steel slide gate.



Alonzo F. Sights headgate structure





Diversion Location: The diversion is located on the  Bear River downstream of the Smiths 
Fork confluence.  The headgate is located about 100 yards downstream of the actual 
diversion.  Water is carried to the headgate across existing railroad tracks through a 
culvert.  The Diversion is regulated as part of the Central Division of the Bear River 
Compact. See location map hereafter.

					

Latitude  	N   42° 08' 06.8"	

Longitude     	W 110° 58'  21.5"





Conveyance Description: Open channel ditch, approximately 15,840 feet in length.1



Direct Flow Water Rights:2





Priority Date 
Permit 
Number		
Permitted Use 
Permitted 
Acres		 
Flow 
(CFS)		
Cumulative 
(CFS)		 
Comments


05-30-1884 
Terr
Irrigation 
97
1.38 
1.38 



05-30-1884 
Terr
Irrigation, Storage 
250
3.57 
4.95 



05-30-1884 
Terr
Irrigation, Storage 
227
3.24 
8.19 



01-11-1954 
5721E
Irrigation, Storage 
33
0.47 
8.66 
George Bourne - Garret Springs (Non-Compact
tributary - deducted from compact accounting.)




 




click to enlarge





Associated Storage Rights:	None	


Irrigation Practices:  Irrigation practices are mixed (Approx. 60% flood irrigation, 40% hand 
line sprinklers & side rolls).3



Estimated Diversion Efficiency: 



Calculated Diversion Efficiency = Conveyance Efficiency X Application Efficiency:





Conveyance Efficiency: 65%


Application Efficiency: 65%


Overall Diversion Efficiency: 42%








Conveyance efficiency is estimated by total length of main canal. Application efficiency 
for flood irrigation and sprinkler irrigation is estimated at 55% and 85% respectively.





Crop Types / Consumptive Use:  Approximately 40% of the irrigated acreage is alfalfa and 
grains (primarily oats).  The remainder of the acreage is meadow grasses.3


Return Flows:   Return flow is primarily captured the Oscar E. Snyder Ditch (approx. 50%) and 
the Cook Brothers Ditch (approx. 50%).


The following return flow pattern was adopted for modeling in this study are as follows: 

	
		Month
      (after initial Diversion)	 Percent of Return
		0			70%
		1			20%
		2			10%
                3                        0%
                                       100%
		



	
	


References:

    

  1. 	USDA -Soil Conservation Service Economic Research Service-Forest Service in Cooperation 
with the States of Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Irrigation Conveyance Systems, Working Paper for 
the Bear River Basin Type IV Study, Idaho-Utah-Wyoming, April 1976

    

  2. 	Water rights summary obtained from State Engineer Interstate Reglist - revised April 14, 
1999

    

  3. 	Irrigation practices based on field investigation and interview with Mr. Kevin Wilde, 
Hydrographer / Commissioner -  November 30, 1999.

    

  4. 	State of Utah Natural Resources, Water Budget Studies - Utah, Bear River Study Area, 
September 1994.






Monthly Diversion Records

Alonzo F. Sights






YEAR
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER


Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft


1970
11
0.4
21.8
268
8.9
531.6
320
10.3
634.7
143
4.6
283.6
0
0.0
0.0


1971
1229
39.6
2437.7
1284
42.8
2546.8
432
13.9
856.9
105
3.4
208.3
15
0.5
29.8


1972
612
19.7
1213.9
1890
63.0
3748.8
200
6.5
396.7
304
9.8
603.0
36
1.2
71.4


1973
79
2.5
156.7
462
15.4
916.4
470
15.2
932.2
132
4.3
261.8
0
0.0
0.0


1974
413
13.3
819.2
696
23.2
1380.5
392
12.6
777.5
213
6.9
422.5
20
0.7
39.7


1975
0
0.0
0.0
327
10.9
648.6
138
4.5
273.7
113
3.6
224.1
2
0.1
4.0


1976
0
0.0
0.0
192
6.4
380.8
412
13.3
817.2
784
25.3
1555.0
0
0.0
0.0


1977
202
6.5
400.7
216
7.2
428.4
175
5.6
347.1
2
0.1
4.0
0
0.0
0.0


1978
148
4.8
293.6
567
18.9
1124.6
504
16.3
999.7
119
3.8
236.0
0
0.0
0.0


1979
404
13.0
801.3
471
15.7
934.2
323
10.4
640.7
28
0.9
55.5
0
0.0
0.0


1980
447
14.4
886.6
693
23.1
1374.5
360
11.6
714.0
35
1.1
69.4
116
3.9
230.1


1981
223
7.2
442.3
445
14.8
882.6
450
14.5
892.6
28
0.9
55.5
9
0.3
17.9


1982
1683
54.3
3338.2
1245
41.5
2469.4
328
10.6
650.6
14
0.5
27.8
73
2.4
144.8


1983
2
0.1
4.0
2783
92.8
5520.0
118
3.8
234.0
21
0.7
41.7
0
0.0
0.0


1984
990
31.9
1963.6
2482
82.7
4923.0
448
14.5
888.6
12
0.4
23.8
0
0.0
0.0


1985
0
0.0
0.0
216
7.2
428.4
206
6.6
408.6
107
3.5
212.2
130
4.3
257.9


1986
0
0.0
0.0
168
5.6
333.2
314
10.1
622.8
246
7.9
487.9
0
0.0
0.0


1987
291
9.4
577.2
283
9.4
561.3
242
7.8
480.0
68
2.2
134.9
0
0.0
0.0


1988
11
0.4
21.8
809
27.0
1604.6
268
8.6
531.6
275
8.9
545.5
42
1.4
83.3


1989
104
3.4
206.3
596
19.9
1182.1
614
19.8
1217.9
224
7.2
444.3
0
0.0
0.0


1990
32
1.0
63.5
207
6.9
410.6
266
8.6
527.6
256
8.3
507.8
23
0.8
45.6


1991
125
4.0
247.9
285
9.5
565.3
272
8.8
539.5
267
8.6
529.6
147
4.9
291.6


1992
279
9.0
553.4
270
9.0
535.5
279
9.0
553.4
118
3.8
234.0
0
0.0
0.0


1993
202
6.5
400.7
718
23.9
1424.1
504
16.3
999.7
151
4.9
299.5
96
3.2
190.4


1994
283
9.1
561.3
283
9.4
561.3
274
8.8
543.5
28
0.9
55.5
18
0.6
35.7


1995
266
8.6
527.6
672
22.4
1332.9
362
11.7
718.0
106
3.4
210.2
0
0.0
0.0


1996
211
6.8
418.5
786
26.2
1559.0
475
15.3
942.1
0
0.0
0.0
282
9.4
559.3


1997
75.1
2.4
149.0
434.2
14.5
861.2
545.1
17.6
1081.2
240.7
7.8
477.4
14
0.5
27.8


1998
87.5
2.8
173.6
69.6
2.3
138.0
465.8
15.0
923.9
98.7
3.2
195.8
0
0.0
0.0





AVERAGES


9.4
575.2


22.8
1355.4


11.3
694.7


4.7
289.9


1.2
70.0













To the Bear River Basin Water Plan