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'\., set of rules of regulations that covers both the effects on senior surface water rights in Colorado and depletions to the usable flow at the state line, The well owners are anxiously awaiting the final version of those rules but it is evident from the discussion drafts which have been in circulation for the last couple of weeks that the rules will be tough and will impose a full-time augmentation requirement in the very near future, Lower Arkansas Water Manaqement Association Lower Arkansas Water Management Association (LAWMA) is one of several well owner groups in the Arkansas which are in the business of providing augmentation service for its well owner members, It is based in Lamar and principally serves the area east and downstream of John Martin Reservoir, By contrast, the area above John Martin Reservoir has traditionally been served by the Colorado Water and Protective and Development Association (CWPDA) and, in addition, the last couple of years by another group which has started up called Arkansas Groundwater Users Association (AGUA), In recent weeks a new proposal has emerged under which Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District may form an enterprise and provide well augmentation above John Martin, While the roles of these several organizations remain to be sorted out, it appears that LAWMA has essentially inherited the role of providing augmentation in the lower river, LAWMA was formed in the early 1970's in response to the original rules and regulations covering well pumping, It is a non- profit, voluntary membership organization and it has been actively providing augmentation to the degree required by those rules and regulations on a year-to-year basis since it was formed, It currently has 170 members covering approximately 551 wells, For most of this time period LAWMA had operated a project known as the Buffalo Demonstration Project, which consisted of a series of wells which pumped ground water directly into the Buffalo Canal, thus reducing the call of that water right on the river, The Buffalo is the downstream-most ditch in Colorado and is relatively senior. By relieving its call some compensation to other ditches was caused, offsetting some of the effect of deplet ion due to well pumping, The Buffalo proj ect was created under the active leadership and sponsorship of the State Engineer'S office funded in part with grant money which the State Engineer helped to obtain, This project became quite controversial and more than any other symbolized to the Special Master Colorado'S historical treatment of the well depletion problem at the state line, It appeared to the SpeC:lal Master that by pumping ground water into the Buffalo Canal, allowing upstream wells to continue to operate, Colorado was passing the impact of well pumping downstream to Kansas, The Buffalo Demonstration Project has now been discontinued, 2