LPPD000461

• Contract/PO #: C150123
• Contractor Name: Stromberger Land & Cattle Company, LLC
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 64
• County: Logan
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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~ternatives Evaluated

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A range of alternatives were considered on how to generate an
augmentation supply for SLCC including 1) don't build a project
and continue to solely rely upon GASP for augmentation, 2)
purchase a senior water right and use it for augmentation, 3)
construct a series of recharge ponds filled using recharge wells,
identical to operations on the Tamarack Ranch.

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A subjective evaluation of the alternatives follows:

1. Don't build a project:

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If a project were not pursued, the SLCC would continue to
solely rely upon GASP for augmentation. Even though GASP has
provided augmentation coverage for the past 30 years, there
is no certainty of total augmentation coverage with the GASP
plan. Supplies currently used to augment the 12 SLCC wells
are entirely secured by GASP on a one year lease basis. If
any of these leases are not renewed or can not be renewed
because of the extreme drought conditions, the SLCC could
not operate their wells. This would be an annual loss of
approximately 5,000 acre feet of irrigation water. This
event, if it occurred, could lead to a major loss of crops
under the SLCC farm. This alternative a one time may have
been considered acceptable but due to the continuing changes
in the water community this is no longer an acceptable
alternative.

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2. Purchase a senior water right and use it for
augmentation:

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This alternative is currently used by many front range
municipalities for the very same reason. The City of Parker
has even purchased water rights across the river from SLCC
for augmenting environmental issues they have. SLCC found
that the only available water right for sale in their area
would come with the purchase of a farm controlling the
Ramsey Ditch. The Ramsey Ditch is a 12 cfs direct flow right
with a date of August 1894. In order to obtain the water
right, the entire farm would have to be purchased at a price
of $1.25 million. This price does not even include the legal
fees associated with converting the water right over to
augmentation use. This alternative may be financially
acceptable to someone like Parker but not to SLCC.

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Feasibility Study
Stromberger Land & Cattle Co.
Recharge Project
October 2002

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