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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />March 1 996 Final <br /> <br />to Clay Creek recharge facilities when the water flowing into John Martin Reservoir is of <br />relatively high quality. <br /> <br />The Lamar Canal. The City of Lamar also owns 50 shares in the Lamar Canal and <br />Irrigation Company that it does not presently need for its potable water system. These shares <br />were used along with the Fort Bent shares previously described on the Cruikshank Farm east <br />of Lamar. Previous studies by this consultant using data from the Colorado Water Budget <br />have shown that the diversions into the Lamar Canal and consumptive use therefrom averaged <br />approximately 1.49 acre-feet per share and 0.82 acre-foot per share, respectively, during <br />1950-85. The aforementioned consumptive use value was the result of canal, lateral, and <br />maximum efficiency values of 77, 94, and 75 percent, respectively, with 5 percent of the <br />canal and lateral losses being consumed through evapotranspiration. LAWMA's consumptive <br />use credit from these 50 shares should average 41 acre-feet (50 x 0.82) annually. <br /> <br />The Colorado Beef Aareement. In March 1995, LAWMA entered into an agreement <br />with Colorado Beef as a means of augmenting the new depletions at the Colorado Beef <br />feedlot. Colorado Beef owns the West Farm, which is located under the Lamar Canal; has <br />removed a portion of the West Farm from irrigation; and has committed a corresponding <br />portion of the water supply to augmentation. Although Colorado Beef established more than <br />enough consumptive use credits to replace the new depletions, it does not have water to <br />replace the new winter depletions and winter return flow from the dried-up acreage. In effect, <br />LAWMA agreed to provide winter replacement water from its Article II Storage Accounts in <br />exchange for consumptive use credits during the irrigation season. On an average annual <br />basis for the present level of feed lot operation, LA WMA will provide 349 acre-feet of account <br />water during the winter and will receive 466 acre-feet of consumptive use credit during the <br />irrigation season. Both values will increase in roughly the same ratio under an expanded <br />operation. <br /> <br />Annual Water Purchases. Significant amounts of consumable water are presently <br />available for purchase on an annual basis from the Cities of Pueblo and Colorado Springs and <br />from others. The price of this water currently ranges from about $6 to $20 per acre-foot <br />depending on where the water will be used, whether it will be completely consumed, and <br /> <br />17 <br />