C150156 FS

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

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Thus, based on the fact that: 1) the Excelsior Ditch has the cheapest cost per acre-foot of the twelve
analyzed alternatives, 2) the Excelsior Ditch shares are priced considerably lower than other main stem
Arkansas River water rights, and 3) the largest well depletions from AGUA members occur on the main
stem of the Arkansas River below Pueblo Reservoir where the Excelsior Ditch is located, the acquisition
of the 785 Excelsior Ditch shares is the recommended replacement source alternative.
, 8.0 EXCELSIOR DITCH ENLARGEMENT & RECHARGE POND CONSTRUCTION
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AGUA is also requesting funding for enlargement of approximately four miles of the Excelsior Ditch and
the construction of an additional 15-acre recharge pond. AGUA's use of the existing 6.3 acres of
recharge pond has been beneficial to AGUA by providing a means to retain excess replacement water
and make the best use of the Excelsior Ditch water rights and provide replacement credits during all
months of the year. The means for calculating and accounting for replacement water credit recharged
through the ponds has been established with the Division Two, State Engineer's Office. AGUA has
found that their ability to fully utilize excess replacement water has been limited by the size of the
existing ponds and the carrying capacity of the last four miles of the ditch.
AGUA proposes to enlarge the last four miles of the Excelsior Ditch as shown on Figure 2. The size of
the ditch is too small to accommodate the excess replacement water without flooding adjacent farmland.
It is estimated that the existing ditch will need to be widened by an additional three feet. The excavated
material will be placed along the ditch and graded and therefore removal of the material is not necessary.
AGUA has obtained a quote for the cost of the construction, which is estimated to be approximately
$25,000. The estimated cost is the equivalent of $1.18 per lineal foot of ditch. Widening of the ditch is
within the rights of the Excelsior Ditch Company and no permits or easements are required for the
enlargement.
AGUA also proposes to construct an additional 15-acre recharge pond on the Pueblo Army Depot
property located at the end of the Excelsior Ditch as shown on Figure 2. AGUA has received a quote to
excavate the pond by removing approximately four to six feet of overburden to expose the permeable
sand layer below at $0.85 per cubic yard for a total cost of approximately $81,000 (based on four feet of
overburden, or approximately 95,000 cubic yards of excavation). The excavated overburden will be used
to construct a berm around the pond to reduce potential for flooding the ponds from Chico Creek.
AGUA — 2003 Feasibility Study - 1 g- August 15, 2003