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rules. Second, the new wells to be constructed for the Compact Compliance Pipeline <br />would cause no new net depletions because pumping would be limited to the historical <br />consumptive use of the existing rights. Third, RRCA approval of this alternative is <br />considered likely, which means that construction could likely begin in late 2008, with the <br />potential for delivery of water in mid-2009, which could prevent curtailment under the <br />State Engineer's proposed Compact Rules. Fourth, this alternative would not place a <br />new water demand on the Ogallala Aquifer, and wells in this area are located in one of <br />the deepest parts of the aquifer in Colorado, thereby assuring a long-term water supply <br />for the Compact Compliance Pipeline and not requiring future actions to offset new <br />withdrawals from the aquifer. <br />4.0 ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FOR THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE <br />Approximately 11,000 acre-feet of water per year is needed at this time to comply with <br />Colorado's compact obligation. Over the longer term, it is estimated that approximately <br />15,000 acre-feet of water per year will be needed. The Compact Compliance Pipeline <br />will be sized to allow gravity delivery of water to meet the future requirements. The <br />initial capacity will be 15,000 acre-feet per year, provided over a nine-month period, with <br />the capability to expand the delivery rate by adding a pumping facility. <br />4.1. Source of Water for the Compact Compliance Pipeline <br />The preferred alternative is for the RRWCD WAE to acquire rights to designated ground <br />water that are currently used to irrigate approximately 10,000 acres of land using <br />center-pivot sprinklers within the property boundary shown on Figure 1. The historical <br />consumptive use on these lands has been estimated to be approximately 15,000 acre- <br />feet per year. These ground water rights will be transferred to six (or possibly eight) <br />new well locations (Figure 2). New high-capacity wells will be constructed to pump the <br />transferred consumptive use to supply the Compact Compliance Pipeline. <br />4.2. Hydrologic Evaluation <br />The quantity of water available from existing rights to designated ground water will be <br />based on the historical consumptive use of water produced from the wells during the <br />past 10 years, which is estimated to be 15 to 20 inches per year. The historical <br />consumptive use will vary from well to well, depending on pumping rates and crops that <br />were grown. The historical consumptive use will be determined for rights to designated <br />ground water acquired by the RRWCD WAE for the Compact Compliance Pipeline <br />using methods that have been accepted by the GWC. <br />4.3. Water Quality <br />Ground water underlying the lands being considered as a potential source of supply for <br />the Compact Compliance Pipeline is considered to be of good quality and generally <br />equal to or better than the surface water in the North Fork of the Republican River at the <br />state line. The water source is designated as the Ogallala Formation - North. Stream <br />classifications and water quality standards for the North Fork of the Republican River, <br />as published by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, are identified in the <br />E�3 <br />