Arkansas - CSU - EffectLandFallowing_Application_Nov2008

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Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods -Grant Application Form January 2008 2. Study ArealService Area Description. The study arealservice area is generally the geographic area that is the subject of the proposed program/project (include both the source of supply and location and type of new use). The description should include the following items: a) A narrative description of the study arealservice area including: the county, the location of towns or cities, topography, and locations of major surface and ground water features. StudyArea. Two demonstration sites on working farms will be established in Otero County, CO (1,270 min), which is entirely comprised by the Arkansas River Basin. Otero County is home to the towns of Cheraw, Fowler, La Junta, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, and Swink. The major surface water feature in Otero County is the Arkansas River, which supplies water locally to the Catlin, Ft. Lyon, Holbrook, Horse Creek Supply, Lake, Otero, Ninemile, Rocky Ford, Rocky Ford High Line Canal, and Two Buttes Canals, and their associated laterals. Topography is generally flat, with elevations ranging from 4000-5000 ft, and averaging 4611. Demonstration Sites. The two demonstration sites will be established on farms owning shares in the Rocky Ford High Line Canal and the Holbrook Canal. The Rocky Ford High Line Canal Company possesses senior water rights and is involved in leasing of agriculture water to the City of Aurora in 2004 and 2005 (Henrichs, 2008). This leasing program has proven beneficial in providing water to Aurora during times of drought, while providingfarmersextra money for new equipment and improvementsfortheir irrigation systems to help reduce labor and maintenance costs. Moreover, when the fallowed land is irrigated and farmed again, during years of adequate water supplies, money is spent locally for seed, fertilizer and other production items. The senior water rights owned by the Rocky Ford High Line Canal Company date back to 1861, and are therefore of great value to M & I interests for both rotational fallowing and interruptible supply agreements. The Holbrook Canal, on the other hand, owns primarily junior water rights. The Holbrook Canal is not currently engaged in a water leasing program, but the City of La Junta recently purchased four farms with about 900 shares of the Holbrook Canal. La Junta plans to lease back the land and irrigation water to willing farmers. In accordance with Colorado House Bill 03-1334, the city will use water in three years out of 10, presumably in the driest of years. Working with the Holbrook Mutual Irrigating Company on this project also offers the advantage of utilizing a storage facility (Holbrook Reservoir) to conduct contract exchanges or "paper exchanges" with upstream water facilities. Water stored in Holbrook Lake could be exchanged for water stored elsewhere, for instance, in Pueblo Reservoir or at a location more conducive to conveyance to the final M & I user. The flexibility afforded by this approach may be quite attractive to potential water leasers. b) An area map showing each of the items above, as well as the locations of existing facilities, proposed project facilities and boundaries of lands involved in the proposed program/project. The project area will be located entirely within the Arkansas River Basin (see Figure 1, attached). c) Information regarding the irrigated lands that are involved in the program/project. This must include a tabulation of total irrigated acreage, description of cropping types, crop yields, and total average annual water diversions for existing agricultural lands. 9