On August 19, 2013, CWT obtained approval from the Division Engineer to use the McKinley Ditch shares in the Short Term Lease program. The Short Term Lease Program allows for the use of the water for instream flow purposes for up to three of the next ten years to provide water to a decreed instream flow water right that is water-short. After approval and before CWT could implement the lease, heavy rains increased flows in the Little Cimarron to where the decreed instream flow right on the Cimarron River was fully satisfied. As a result, the McKinley Ditch shares could not be protected in the river to provide instream flow benefits because the instream flow right was receiving its full decreed amount of water.