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<br />largest concentrations of wells in the following areas: south of Greeley along US 85 to Brighton,
<br />southeast of Greeley extending to Keenesberg, and north ofI-76 between Wiggins and Fort
<br />Morgan. In 2004, the irrigated acreage was 30,320 acres. Currently there are 220 Subdistrict
<br />members covering 440 wells, and the Board no longer accepts new members.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />On November 2, 2004 the W AS Subdistrict held an election to authorize incurring debt and
<br />establishment of a mill levy rate of up to 9 mills, for the purchase of water rights, and
<br />construction of water storage facilities. The election passed with 75% of the WAS members
<br />voting in favor. Based on their assessed valuation, the WAS Subdistrict could borrow up to
<br />$20,000,000.
<br />
<br />At the November 17, 2004 Board Meeting, the District presented three alternatives to address the
<br />Subdistrict's depletions from their 440 irrigation wells. Alternative No.1, was a no action
<br />alternative that would result in the Subdistrict's 440 wells being curtailed by the State, which was
<br />determined to be unacceptable. Alternative No.2 was a water rights purchase to cover a 300-day
<br />call period and Alternative No.3 was a water rights purchase to cover a 365-day call period.
<br />
<br />Given the large added cost to achieve Alternative No.3, the Subdistrict elected to pursue
<br />Alternative No.2, which was approved by the Board. This alternative involved the purchase of
<br />4,066 acre-feet of water rights and the creation 4,000 acre-feet of water storage.
<br />
<br />The total estimated total cost to acquire the water rights and to construct the water storage is
<br />summarized below:
<br />
<br />TOTAL
<br />
<br />$ 5,100,000
<br />3,100,000
<br />2,000,000
<br />2,000,000
<br />8,000,000
<br />2,000,000
<br />$22,200,000
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />1. Weldon Valley Ditch Rights
<br />2. Rural & Godding Ditch Rights
<br />3. Farmers Independent Ditch Rights
<br />4. Lupton Meadows Ditch Rights
<br />5. Shores Gravel Pit Storage (Longmont)
<br />6. Heit Gravel Pit Storage
<br />
<br />(3200 AF)
<br />(800 AF)
<br />
<br />At the November 17,2004 Board Meeting, the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a
<br />$20,200,000 loan to the Subdistrict to purchase water rights and to construct water storage
<br />facilities as indicated above.
<br />
<br />On May 5, 2006, the District received word from the State Engineer's Office that they could not
<br />approve the WAS Subdistrict's Substitute Water Supply Plan. The decision was based on the
<br />available snowpack, which reduced the District's projected number of "no call" days to nearly
<br />zero. This required the District to obtain additional replacement water, which after a series of
<br />attempts could not be met with their existing water rights and assets. As a result, a significant
<br />number of the WAS Subdistrict's wells were required to be curtailed.
<br />
<br />Based on the State Engineer's decision the District decided to reduce the WAS Subdistrict to 1
<br />well per farm. This resulted in the number of wells under the WAS Subdistrict to be reduced
<br />from 440 wells to 220 wells. It is the opinion of the District, based on their current and future
<br />water rights purchases, water storage, and current and future recharge sites, that this reduction
<br />will improve the Subdistrict's position in getting through water court in 2007. It is also the
<br />District's opinion, that under the revised WAS Subdistrict, that they can achieve 50% pumping .
<br />quota for the 220 wells within the next 5-years. '
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