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 Arkansas River in sec. 1, T.23 5., RA9 W., about 5 miles downstream from John Martin
Dam. The company owns water rights totaling 228.51 cfs under priorities ranging from April
1, 1886 to December 31, 1900. There are a total of 11,651.2 shares outstanding in the
company; consequently LAWMA has the use of approximately 12.07 percent of the total
outstanding shares in the company.

According to the Colorado Water Budget Documentation, the water diverted into the
Fort Bent Canal during 1950-85 averaged 15,498 acre-feet annually or 1.33 acre-feet per
share per year. Approximately 1,870 acre-feet of this annual diversion corresponded to
shares available to LAWMA. The Colorado Water Budget indicates also that canal, lateral, and
maximum farm efficiencies in the Fort Bent Ditch system are 77, 94, and 75 percent,
respectively, producing a maximum crop consumptive use rate of 55.67 percent. In addition,
5 percent of the canal and lateral losses are consumed through evaporation and transpiration.
Therefore, an average of approximately 1,040 acre-feet (0.74 acre-foot per share) of
consumptive use water should be available to LA WMA annually from these Fort Bent shares.
All this water will continue to be diverted into the Fort Bent Ditch. LAWMA will leave the
water corresponding to 152 of these shares in the ditch for distribution among the remaining
shareholders. This will provide some in-ditch replacement to the Fort Bent Ditch Company.
Water corresponding to the remaining 1,254 shares will be released back to the Arkansas
River through Clay Creek for replacement to downstream ditches and to Usable Stateline
Flow. Judging from the 1 950-85 hydrologic conditions, the releases back to the river through
Clay Creek from these 1,254 shares should average at least 1,284 acre-feet (0.77 x 1.33 x
1,254) annually and deliveries of consumptive use water averaging at least 928 acre-feet
(0.74 x 1,254) annually.

LAWMA understands that water will be available under the City-owned shares only
until the City needs the water for its potable water systems. LAWMA believes, however, that
the water will be available to it for some years to come. The reason is that the City is
presently utilizing Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water in preference to these Fort Bent shares
for water quality reasons. This Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water can be regulated in Pueblo
Reservoir and the Fort Bent Article II Account in John Martin Reservoir, and can be delivered

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