WSP08894

• File Number: 8135.100
• Description: Ditch Companies - Amity Mutual Irrigation Company
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 6/1/1983
• Author: McCall-Ellingson Mor
• Title: PL 84-984 Loan Application Report for the Amity Mutual Irrigation Company - Rehabilitation Plan-Amity System
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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1170

Chapter 1
GENERAL INFORr1ATION AND COMPANY BACKGROUND

PURPOSE

This report is submitted by the Amity Mutual Irrigation Company (AMIC)
in support of loan application to rehabilitate the Amity System under
the Small Reclamation Project Act, PL 84-984.

LOCATION

The Amity System and the project area it serves is located in the State
of Colorado, north of the Arkansas River in Prowers. Bent, and Kiowa
Counties and north of Lamar and Holly, The elevation of the area ranges
from 3,400 to 4,200 feet MSL, Plate 1 (Appendix) shows the project
area and land classification. Plate 2 shows system features included
in the project.

CLIMATE

The project area is semi-arid, continental. warm, and generally mild.
The winters are relatively short and usually open with abrubt periods
of extreme temperature variations while the summers are long with hot
days and coo1 nights, At irregu1ar interva1s during winter, snowstorms
mOve southward across the area, The growing season averages about 166
days per year, beginning about April 26 and ending about October 26,
with the last and first killing frosts respectively. The mean annual
temperature is about 52 degrees at Lamar and Holly. and the mean annual
precipitation is about 14,9 inches at Lamar and 14,6 inches at Holly.
The mean monthly temperature and precipitation are shown in Figure 1,
About 76 percent of the precipitation occurs during the growing season.
For successful crop production. the precipitation is inadequate. With
low humidity and a high evaporation rate, considerable moi~ture is re-
quired to grow crops, During late winter and early spring. dry winds
are common which. in years of inadequate water supply, causes reduced
crop yields. Torrential rains occur sporadically as do hailstorms dur-
ing the summer months. In general. the climate is well-suited for ir-
rigated agriculture.

COMPANY ORGANIZATION

The Amity r1utual Irrigation Company is incorporated under the laws of
Colorado and began operation in 1936. The membership lands are a part
of an earlier irrigation development in the 1880's by the Arkansas
Valley Sugar Beet and Irrigated Land Company. The Company was formed
as a nonprofit corporation for the delivery of water to its members.
Revenues are obtained by assessments to its members. The responsibility
of management is delegated to a five-man board of directors. The direc-
tors are elected by the members yearly at the annual shareholders' meeting.

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