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Buffalo Park Ranch: In the early 1990s, Aurora transferred the consumptive use associated with <br />agricultural water rights used on the Buffalo Park Ranch near Leadville, Colorado, in the <br />Upper Arkansas River Basin. Associated decree: Case No. 89-CW-42, Water Division 2. <br />Hayden/Spurlin~-Shaw Ranches: In the late 1990s, Aurora purchased agricultural water rights <br />used on two ranches in the Upper Arkansas River Basin. The change of water rights to <br />municipal uses is pending as of January, 2004. Aurora's interest in the historic <br />consumptive use would be diverted at Twin Lakes or Turquoise Reservoir. Associated <br />decree (pending): Case No. 98CW 137, Division No. 2. <br />Decreed Uses: Water that Aurora conveys through the Homestake Pipeline is decreed for a <br />variety of municipal uses. Since this water prior to being diverted into the Homestake <br />Pipeline is either associated with historic consumption of agricultural water rights <br />changed to municipal purposes or is transmountain imported water, it is considered fully <br />consumable by Aurora when delivered to the South Platte. <br />Associated Storage: A number of reservoirs are involved with the delivery of the water sources <br />to the Homestake Pipeline, including Twin Lakes Reservoir, Homestake Reservoir, <br />Turquoise Reservoir, Pueblo Reservoir, Lake Henry and Lake Meredith. Homestake <br />Reservoir deliveries to the South Platte are regulated in Aurora's Spinney Mountain <br />Reservoir and other downstream reservoirs. <br />Compact and Other Legal Considerations: Water sources from the Colorado River Basin (i.e. <br />Homestake, Busk-Ivanhoe, and Independence Pass) are subject to the Colorado River <br />Compacts though we understand no curtailment of these systems has historically <br />occurred from the Compacts. Water sources derived from the Arkansas River (Rocky <br />Ford, Colorado Canal, Burroughs, Buffalo Park, Hayden/Spurling-Shaw) have already <br />been reduced to historic levels of consumption and since the changed rights predate the <br />Arkansas River Compact, there would be little, if any, effect of the Arkansas River <br />Compact on these sources. Each source is subject to the terms and conditions indicated <br />in its associated decrees. <br />OPERATIONAL INFORMATION <br />The Homestake Pipeline is an integral part of Aurora's water supply. The use of the Pipeline has <br />changed as the City's water sources have developed. Prior to the development of Aurora's water <br />system in South Parkin the late 1970s, the Homestake Pipeline was the primary component of <br />Aurora water supply (in addition to the Cherry Creek wellfield) and was often diverted to <br />directly satisfy water demands of the City. With the addition of the South Park System and other <br />South Platte supply and storage components, Aurora now typically uses the Homestake Pipeline <br />to supplement the South Platte water sources. Potential icing problems during the winter in the <br />delivery channel typically discourage winter use of the Pipeline. If winter deliveries are made, <br />the attempt is to run water for extended periods rather than turning the system on and off and <br />creating icing problems. <br />8of10 <br />