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---- ? C,r,) , --J ..... . . . LOWER ARKANSAS WATER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION Buffalo Canal Demonstration Project The Lower Arkansas Water Management Association has been formed for the purpose of conserving irrigation water and, at the same time, encour- aging additional agricultural production through better management. The Association believes that the Buffalo Canal Demonstration Project presents a feasible solution to the serious problem resulting from the curtailment of ground water withdrawals to protect senior surface water decrees as required by Colorado law. By pumping unappropriated ground water to satisfy a por- tion of the Buffalo Canal's surface decree, the Association is providing water to replace depletions caused by the use of Association member wells which are a very important part of the agricultural economy of the Lower Arkansas River Valley. A major portion of the funds required to construct the pumping facilities have been provided through a generous grant in the amount of $72 ,500 from the Four Corners Regional Commis s ion. These funds have been administered by the Colorado Division of Water Resources in accordance with agreements with the Association and with the Commission. The Association has agreed to pay all operation, maintenance, and replacement costs of the pumping facilities and has aiso paid for construction costs, which have exceeded the grant amount. It is projected that the Association will have contributed $30,000 in construction costs by the end of the Demonstration Project. Four pumping facilities have been constructed with the entire grant, which have a combined design capacity of approximately 28 cfs. However, because of aquifer limitations, the actual capacity at the present time is 20 cfs. The combined capacity may be increased with acid development of the Hammit well and impeller adjustment on the Hardin pumping unit. It is doubt- '-ful that the combined capacity can be increased to 25 cfs which is a minimum amount acceptable to the Buffalo Mutual Irrigation COI01pany and is so stated in a contract with the ,~ssociation. Therefore, t'.'!O ildc'itiollill '....dls will be constructed during 1976 prior to the irngation S8aSOIl. TheSe wells have a total projected cilpacit\' of 6 cfs, \Vh ich \'nll in,ure tllilt the clCJreement is satisfied and thut the I3qffJlo ~'l1llu~11 Irfl<;ation CO",,),-I!'~" '.':ill not 'x: comp",lled to p]<Jcc cl call 011 the riV2r. J 1102 '-::l.\~ll ,j ']l_ :h..:J1Cl Its ti:Jt could :)1-, ((_,I I I>>_>_i :r-Y,~ lh:s Uc:~.c<,:::tr..Jt!\)n Project Ii" SI~C;CC',:;LU!I~; -,;oi:lpJctcci a:L :1~,:1:':' ti;n~;::: (jrc(lt.~; th,lri the' j~h=::~:onstrCl- tlon Project costs. t1S an eXclmpJc, thl2 Association prescntly h~,s 354 member wells with an ilveragc capacity of 1600 g.p.m. Ii these wells are used to provide supplemental water only during the peak grOWing season when river water is not norl1ldliy ilvailable in sufficient quantity, especially In a dry . , , ----~- ~--