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

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INTRODUCTION

This report presents the results of a feasibility study that was completed for the Lower
Arkansas Water Management Association (LAWMA) under a loan from the Colorado Water
Conservation Board (CWCB). The purpose of the study was to evaluate LAWMA's
replacement supply needs and the suitability of permanent replacement water sources
proposed to be acquired with CWCB loan funds. This report provides updated information
about LAWMA's membership, their ground water pumping, and the resulting stream depletions
that need to be replaced. The report then describes the historical use and estimated yield of
the Highland Irrigation Company, Fort Bent Ditch Company, and Amity Mutual Irrigation
Company water rights. Finally, the report evaluates approaches to reduce pumping by LAWMA
members and describes the use of the Offset Account in John Martin Reservoir.

BACKGROUND

LAWMA is a non-profit corporation that was formed to replace depletions from its
members' well pumping. For its 1998 replacement plan LAWMA included 583 wells, of which
510 wells are located in the mainstream area and 73 wells are located in tributary areas.
Further broken-down by use, there are 489 irrigation wells, 80 municipal wells and 14
commercial wells. LAWMA's primary service area is the Arkansas River mainstem below John
Martin Reservoir, although it has members in the Big Sandy Creek and Two Butte Creek basins
and a few members above John Martin Dam. LAWMA membership also includes several
municipal and rural domestic water suppliers that rely on Dakota and Cheyenne aquifer wells
which are considered non-tributary and are not subject to the State Engineer's use rules.

In 1996, LAWMA obtained a loan from the CWCB to purchase two permanent sources
of replacement water (X-Y Canal and Manvel Canal water rights) to replace depletions to the
Arkansas River caused by its members' well pumping. The X- Y purchase also included land
which LAWMA subsequently sold in two parcels to the Colorado Division of Wildlife and a
private individual. A July 1995 feasibility study prepared on behalf of LAWMA (1995, Helton) in
support of the loan described LAWMA's proposed augmentation program and evaluated its
economic feasibility. The report concluded that the two sources would not be sufficient to cover
LAWMA's depletions and recommended using the proceeds of the sale of the X-V Ranch lands
to purchase additional sources.

In 1997, developments in the Kansas v. Colorado case further increased the gap
between LAWMA's replacement water needs and the amount of water available through its
permanent sources. In 1997, LAWMA identified two addition'al replacement water sources (the
Highland Irrigation Company and shares of the Fort Bent Ditch Company) and obtained

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