PROJC01741 ‎(3)‎

• Contract/PO #: C153768
• Contractor Name: Lower Arkansas Water Management Association
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 67
• County: Bent
• County: Prowers
• Bill Number: SB 96-124
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

For December through February, LAWMA would owe the stream accretions equal to 3.5
percent of the March through November diversions. Such water most likely would be owed to
Conservation Storage in John Martin Reservoir.

Ooeration in 1997. LAWMA acquired 2,682 shares in June 1997 and 700 shares in June 1998
through the loan with the CWCB. LAWMA anticipates purchasing 187 shares later in 1998.
Beginning in July 1997, LAWMA's prorata interest was delivered to the Purgatoire River through
Wasteway No.3. From July through October, 2,066 acre-feet of consumable water was
delivered to the Offset Account in John Martin Reservoir.

Fort Bent Ditch Company

The Fort Bent Ditch diverts from the Arkansas River about 5 miles downstream of John
Martin Dam. It has irrigated about 5,730 acres on the south side of the river from near the
BentlProwers County line to a point about 6 miles east of Lamar. The company has 11,651.2
shares outstanding, and LAWMA may use up to 1,625 shares, of which 120 shares are
presently owned by LAWMA, and 1,505 shares are available through arrangements with the
City of Lamar and others. LAWMA's prorata share of the diversions for 1,473 shares are
delivered through a turnout to Clay Creek and subsequently to the Arkansas River. For 1996
through 1998, the remaining 152 shares were left in the ditch for use by the other shareholders
to replace depletions caused by LAWMA members with respect to the Fort Bent Ditch. Several
stockholders have indicated interest in selling their shares to LAWMA.

Water Riahts. The Fort Bent Ditch has six water rights totaling 228.51 cfs as shown in Table 4.
The senior-most water right, Priority No.6, is junior to 96.75 cfs of other water rights in Water
District 67. Priority No. 10 is junior to 517.19 cfs, Priority No. 12 is junior to 618.96 cfs, and
Priority NO.14 is junior to 814.93 cfs. The other water rights, Priority Nos. 1918-2 and 1918-9
are very junior and are seldom in priority.

Diversions. The diversions for 1950 through 1994 averaged 15,968 acre-feet annually (1.37
acre-feet per share) as shown in Table 9. During the years that the 1980 Storage Resolution
has been in effect. 1980 through 1994, the diversions averaged 17,959 acre-feet annually (1.54
acre-feet per share) and ranged from 13,370 feet in 1981 to 23,818 acre-feet in 1985.

Irriaated Croos and Acreaae. For 1950 through 1985, the irrigated acreage averaged 5,730
acres. (1990, Boyle). The crop distribution was:

Page 8