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 1 996 Final

from these diversions was estimated at 40 percent of the diversions consistent with the
existing District policy. The return flow averaged 993 acre-feet annually and accrued to the
Arkansas River in river segments above the X-V headgate, and also to the Wiley, Pleasant
Valley, and May Valley drains above the Amity Canal.

The Stubbs RiClhts. In 1989, LAWMA acquired the water rights for the Stubbs portion
of the Sisson-Stubbs Ditch. These rights included 7.2 cfs with a December 1, 1895 priority
and the Stubbs portion of the Sisson-Stubbs Article II Account in John Martin Reservoir.

Historically, this Stubbs right was used through the Sisson-Stubbs Canal. The Sisson-
Stubbs Canal diverted from the south bank of the Arkansas River in sec. 14, T.23 S.,
R.43 W., and extended generally east a distance of about 5 miles. As the name of the canal
suggests, the Sisson right also was used through the Sisson-Stubbs Canal. This right
amounted to 18 cfs under a December 1, 1891 priority. The two rights were under separate
ownership and used on separate lands, although a rotational system was used to distribute
the water between the two rights. Because of difficulties in operating and maintaining the
diversion facilities on the Arkansas River, a pumping station was established on the river in
the early 1950's a short distance downstream from the diversion dam to assist in diverting
the water available under the two rights. The diversion facilities were destroyed during the
1965 flood and were not rebuilt, although some water may have diverted from the river since
then through a portable pump. The Sisson water right is presently diverted through three
wells, that were established as alternate points of diversion in the 1960's and 1970's.

Since the Sisson-Stubbs Canal was the most-downstream of all the Colorado ditches
diverting from the Arkansas River, it usually had water available to it. First, surplus water was
sometimes available in this part of the basin. Second, the Buffalo Canal, which has a
relatively senior water right and diverts about 8 miles upstream from the Sisson-Stubbs
diversion point, contributes return flow in the intervening reach. Consequently, the Sisson
and Stubbs rights always had some water available to them, even though they were quite
junior in relation to other Colorado rights.

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