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The lack of production is not a result of insufficient water in the underlying aquifer, but <br />the deterioration of the existing well casing. The existing well is at a depth of 80-feet, <br />with a static head currently at 27-feet. <br />The hay produced by the ranch is of high quality, which is sold as horse hay throughout <br />the area. Any low quality hay produced is used as cattle feed. Of the 300 tons of hay <br />currently being produced, 70% is high quality horse hay, with the remaining 30% being <br />used for cow hay on the ranch. The 70/30 split of horse to cow hay is typical at any <br />production level, given weather. <br />Water Rights <br />The original irrigation well was constructed in 1959 under Permit No. 6887, issued on <br />March 3 of 1959. The permit allowed for 150 acres to be irrigated, at a maximum <br />output rate of 700 gallons per minute. According to the ranch, the area around the well <br />failed in 1975 due to subsequent flooding and erosion. The ranch applied for a <br />replacement well, which was granted on December 11, 1975, under Permit No. R-6887- <br />RF. As previously described, this well over the past 10-years has slowly lost its ability <br />to produce at its permitted rate of 700 gallons per minute. The reason for the decline in <br />output was attributed to the condition of the well casing, which had severely deteriorated. <br />Therefore, given the state of the well, the ranch applied for a replacement well permit, <br />which was issued on November 11, 2005, Permit No. 6887-R. The new permit specifies <br />that the replacement well shall be a minimum of 300-feet from the existing, at a <br />maximum depth of 80-feet, with annual production not-to-exceed 400 acre-feet, limited <br />only to the Bijou Creek alluvium or its tributaries. See Appendix C for copies of <br />permits. <br />P�I�C-e-�r�A �-t '�e, �, }- a -� � ,!W-r5,�v � <br />The ranch has also requested a��errt�l well permit from the State Engineer's <br />Office. The attorneys for the ranch, Petrock and Fendel, P.C., are currently in the final <br />stages of securing that permit from the State Engineer's Office. The supplemental well <br />request will not increase the ranches ma.�cimum annual allotted 400 acre-feet of irrigation <br />water, but will solely serve to maximize the ranches hay production. It is the intent of <br />the ranch to have a decision on this item by April of 2006. <br />Project Description and Alternatives <br />The purpose of this project is to examine the feasibility of the Abbott Ranch to drill a <br />replacement well and to drill a new supplemental irrigation well, to ensure hay <br />production today and into the future. Three alternatives were considered in providing <br />sufficient imgation flow: <br />1. No action alternative <br />2. Rehabilitation of existing well. �p (� �j �' <br />3. Drill replacement well and install �A9�linear feet of�=inch PVC Pipe <br />4. Drill replacement well and supplemental well and insta11�A96-linear feet of <br />inch PVC Pipe. ���oo � <br />7 <br />