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Court went on to say that a substitute supply plan (such as the one operated by the Subdistrict) <br />would either have to file for a decree in Water Court, or follow new Rules & Regulations to be <br />issued by the State Engineer. Either alternative would raise the standard required for approval. <br />Ultimately, the Subdistrict will need to acquire more senior water rights to augment out-of- <br />priority diversions. Ultimately, the Subdistrict will need to acquire approximately $30M in <br />senior water rights to cover a 300-day period of call on the South Platte River. Central's current <br />augmentation plan has 220 members (440 wells). No new members have been accepted since <br />2003, and the board no longer accepts new members. <br />The Well Augmentation Subdistrict Board of Directors has considered three alternatives: <br />l. No action. <br />2. Purchase water rights to cover a 300-day period of call. <br />3. Purchase water rights to cover a 365-day period of call. <br />Alternative No. 1: No Action. This is unacceptable because it will result in all of Central's <br />current members (440 wells) being shut off when augmentation water supplies are inadequate. It <br />is estimated this could occur, on average, nine years out of ten. The economic impact of the No <br />Action alternative would be devastating to local growers, communities, and the entire state. <br />Alternative No. 2: Purchase water rights to cover a 300-day period of call. This action was <br />selected as it would result in existing member wells being curtailed or shut off approximately <br />two out of ten years. It is estimated that $27.5 million will be needed to purchase water rights <br />for this scenario. Approximately 5,000 acre-feet of gravel pit storage and 5,000 acre-feet of <br />senior water rights would be obtained. <br />Alternative No. 3: Purchase water rights to cover a 365-day period of call. This action was <br />not selected due to the extreme cost involved. The drought of the 1950s resulted in a call period <br />of approximately 600 days (nearly two years), and would require an expenditure of funds of <br />approximately $35 million to accumulate augmentation water for our current members in that <br />situation. The accumulation of this amount of water (approximately 6,300 acre-feet of gravel pit <br />storage and 6,000 acre-feet of senior water rights) would create a severe financial burden to be <br />placed on growers in the area, and would not be economical even during a good farm economy. <br />Financial Analvsis of Alternative No. 2 <br />The Subdistrict would use the $20 million loan from the CWCB to purchase senior water rights <br />in the Greeley andJor Fort Morgan area, and to develop lined gravel pit storage reservoirs in the <br />Greeley area. Cost of senior water rights around Greeley and Fort Morgan is at approximately <br />$3,000/acre-foot consumptive use. Cost of lined gravel pit storage reservoirs in this area is <br />approximately $2,500/acre-foot of storage. Senior and junior water rights would be utilized to <br />fill these storage structures. The Subdistrict would work with local irrigation companies to <br />deliver the water rights back to the South Platte River in a manner acceptable to both the <br />company and the State Engineer. <br />5 <br />