LPPD000391

• Contract/PO #: C153715
• 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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March 1996 Final

The Division of Wildlife has shown an interest in acquiring fee title to about 2,000
acres in the X-V Ranch and easements covering about 1,500 additional acres. Approximately
1,720 acres of this total is presently irrigated and potentially will require revegetation. A
conceptual management plan prepared by the Division suggests that the irrigated land will be
developed into about 270 acres of wheat land and wildland that will not require irrigation,
about 470 acres of permanent cover and woodland that will require irrigation for 3 to 5 years
during its establishment, and about 610 acres of alfalfa and small grain that will require
permanent irrigation. The remaining 370 acres would be re-established in native grasses.
Thus, about 900 of this 1,720 acres should not require revegetation at all. It should be noted,
however, that water applications required by the Division for the accomplishment of its
objectives will be less than those made normally by irrigators. Native grasses will be
established on the remaining 1,300 acres of presently irrigated land. The water requirements
for this alternative are estimated at a total of about 2,500 acre-feet per year for 3 to 5 years
and at a total of about 1 ,000 acre-feet per year after that. This water would be obtained from
the existing wells on the property. The consumptive use of this water should not exceed
71.25 percent, which was figured from the X-V lateral and farm efficiencies used in the
Colorado water budget, or 1,782 acre-feet per year for 3 to 5 years and then should drop
down to 713 acre-feet per year.

In the event the Division of Wildlife does not acquire the X-V Ranch, then native
grasses will be re-established on the entire 3,000 acres. LAWMA's anticipation is that this
can be accomplished in not more than 4 years based on the experience of its Board members
in irrigation and on interviews with the manager of Aurora's revegetation project under the
Rocky Ford Ditch. This would involve the revegetation of approximately 1,000 acres each
year with the fourth year to improve problem areas. Water applications of more than 24
inches per year should not be required for this purpose, producing maximum amounts of
around 2,000 acre-feet per year. The water would be obtained from the existing wells on the
property. The consumptive use from the water should not be more than 1,425 acre-feet per
year using irrigation efficiencies previously discussed.

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