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<br />Alternatives Evaluated <br /> <br />A range of alternatives were considered on how to generate an <br />augmentation supply for BFWD including 1) don't build a project <br />and continue to solely rely upon LWU for augmentation, 2) <br />purchase a senior water right and use it for augmentation, 3) <br />construct a recharge well with a pipeline and pump into recharge <br />ponds. <br /> <br />An evaluation of the alternatives follows: <br /> <br />1. Don't build a project: <br /> <br />If a project were not pursued, BFWD would continue to solely <br />rely upon LWU for augmentation. As the current drought <br />continues, LWU is in the process of developing a curtailment <br />policy based partly on an individual's ability to provide <br />their own augmentation coverage. Under the current situation <br />BFWD could be more vulnerable to curtailment in the LWU <br />membership. BFWD does not find this to be an acceptable <br />alternative any longer. <br /> <br />2. Purchase a senior water right and use it for <br />augmentation: <br /> <br />This alternative is currently used by many front range <br />municipalities for the very same reason. The City of Parker <br />has even purchased water rights immediately down river from <br />BFWD for augmenting environmental issues they have. BFWD <br />could purchase senior water rights out of Prewitt Reservoir <br />for augmentation purposes. If enough water was available for <br />purchase out of Prewitt, the cost of this alternative would <br />be well over $2,000,000. This alternative may be financially <br />acceptable to someone like Parker but not to BFWD. <br /> <br />3. Construct a recharge well with a pipeline and pump into <br />recharge ponds: <br /> <br />This alternative would consist of drilling one well used to <br />pump water into three recharge ponds. BFWD would also tie 4 <br />existing wells into the pipeline for supplying augmentation <br />water directly to the river. This is a drought management <br />tool currently being approved by the State Engineer to help <br />provide augmentation water during the most severe drought <br />situation. The cost of this alternative is $215,000. <br /> <br />Feasibility Study <br />Buffalo Farms <br />Augmentation Project <br />August 2004 <br /> <br />4 <br />