C150156 approval

• Contract/PO #: C150156
• Contractor Name: Arkansas Groundwater Users Association
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 14
• County: Pueblo
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Approval Letter

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Deparhnent of Naiural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
MEMORANDUM
(Updated September 24, 2003)
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
FROM: Bruce Johnson, P.E. � �
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief � �
Water Supply Planning an Finance Section
DATE: September 12, 2003
s� oW�
Governar
Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director
Rod Kuharich
Cwcs Director
Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director
SUBJECT: Agenda Item 5c, September 22-23 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section — New Loans
Arkansas Groundwater Users Association—Water Rights Purchase/
Recharge Project
(Note: Revisions to the September 12, 2003 loan memo are shown in Italics)
Introduction
The Arkansas Groundwater Users Association (AGUA) is seeking a new loan for $970,448 to
purchase 785 shares of Excelsior Irrigating Company (EIC) for use as a replacement water source to
offset out-of-priority depletions from well pumping, and to construct an additional recharge pond and
enlarge approximately 4 miles of the Excelsior Ditch to allow sufficient delivery of recharge water to
develop augmentation credits. Total cost of the project is $1,082,108. Please see the attached
project summary and map.
Backqround
AGUA is a Colorado non-profit corporation formed in January 1995 to protect and develop the
surface and underground waters in the Arkansas River Basin. AGUA's current membership is over
435 wells with approximately 350 of those wells active in 2003. AGUA also administers plans and
provides augmentation water for the Middle Arkansas Groundwater Users Association (MAGUA)
with 18 active wells, Booth Well Association (Booth) with 26 wells (16 active in 2003), and a few
small substitute water supply plans. AGUA serves several different types of users with
approximately 97% of its replacement water provided for irrigation use and the remaining 3% for
domestic, stock watering, municipal and commercial uses. AGUA's primary service area is the main
stem of the Arkansas River between Pueblo Reservoir and John Martin Reservoir, plus Fountain
Creek. However, AGUA also has members located above Pueblo Reservoir extending to the
Arkansas River headwaters, and a small number of inembers located on tributaries of the Arkansas
River and Fountain Creek. The service area includes approximately 13,500 acres of irrigated land.
Flood Protection • Water Supply Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation and Drought Planning