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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Water Availabilitv for Secondary Su~ The City of Lamar has identified several water sources that it has available for a future secondary supply system. Interests held in IrriQation Enterprises In addition to the adjudicated wells that are used for potable water supply, the City also owns stock in several irrigation enterprises. The stocks owned include: a total of 50 shares in the Lamar Canal and Irrigation Company, 3,860 shares of stock in the Fort Bent Ditch Company, and the option to purchase Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water from the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The Fort Bent Ditch runs along the western boundary of the City and is envisioned as a potential source of secondary water supply. The shares held in the Lamar Canal and Irrigation Company are not envisioned as a direct source of water supply, but an augmentation source for wells that may be used for secondary supply. The expected water yield of the shares owned by the City, or the amount of water supply currently available for secondary supply was not analyzed in this study. However, several issues are presented in this study to guide a future examination of existing water shares as well as to guide any future acquisition of water. The practicality of using irrigation shares for secondary water supply will not only depend on the annual yield of those shares, but also the availability of those water supplies throughout the irrigation season. Timing issues may be of concern if the typical delivery season for the irrigation canals does not match the water requirements of landscapes in the region and if long-term storage of the irrigation water is not an option. Often, landscapes require water in the early spring or during dry winters, when water in the canals may not be available. There is typically a direct relationship between water availability in an irrigation enterprise and regional climate patterns. It is therefore expected that during times of drought, water supply in both quantity and timing would be somewhat limited in these irrigation enterprises and may impact the ability to adequately supply water for landscape purposes. The option to purchase or lease Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water may prove to be a beneficial source of additional water, particularly if potable water supply is not used as a backup for landscape irrigation and if deficit landscape conditions are not desirable. Well Water Decrees In addition to the wells that are used to supply potable water, the City also has three wells at the north end of the City, which it envisions as a source secondary supply. If these well sources are further developed, it will be necessary to augment the groundwater that is pumped through these wells. Aqua Engineering, Inc. and Colorado State University May 19, 2004 Secondary Supply Feasibility Study -12-