LPPD000265

• Contract/PO #: C153756
• Contractor Name: Lower Arkansas Water Management Association
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 67
• County: Prowers
• Bill Number: SB 96-124
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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LA WMA managed two additional alternatives. These alternatives are denoted as
alternatives "CIS' and "S1.5"respectively.

Each of the alternatives analyzed affects classes of member irrigators differently. 1
LA WMA's irrigation membership is divided, for purposes of this report, into sole source
users, supplemental users and irrigators in areas away from the mainstem and along
tributaries of the Arkansas River ("tributary wells"). Each class of irrigator has different
needs for replacement water. Since well water is their only water supply, sole source users
need replacement supplies 100% of the time. Supplemental users, on the other hand, rely
for the most part on surface water rights, plllTIping only when their surface water rights are
out of priority. Tributary well users, whether sole or supplemental, have minimal
replacement obligations and are, therefore, in a separate class.

A general characterization of each alternative is as follows:

/"
V

Alternative C I

. Retains the present membership structure~
. Allocates water based on the historical (average) pattern of armual depletions~
. Allocates enough water in wet and average years to cover the full depletion demand of
all members~
. In critical dry years, it disproportionately reduces the amount of water available for
supplemental users relative to their demand~
. Sole source users pay a slightly higher cost per acre-foot of plllTIping as compared to
supplemental users due to sole sources' higher depletion factors~
. Board makes allocations on an annual basis~
. Source of revenue is variable, depending on the amount of allowable depletions in a
gIVen year.

Alternative C2

. Retains the present membership structure~
. Allocates water based on the relative demand for water by the different types of
irrigators based on dry year conditions (supplemental irrigators would be allocated
additional water relative to a normal year, but this supply still falls short of their
demand~ concurrently, sole source users are restricted in an average and dry year)~
. Creates storage reserves for initial dry years but is insufficient for subsequent dry years~
. In critical dry years, it evenly distributes water demand shortfalls between sole source
and supplemental irrigators~

1 LA WMA's membership includes agricultural inigators, rrumicipalities and corrunercial
operations. Municipalities and corrunercial operators are required to provide their own replacement water
supplies. This repOlt does not evaluate the impact of the various organizational structures proposed on
municipal and corrunercial operators.

EnWater Resource Consultants September 5,1997 Final Report

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