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Depletions caused by the pumping of alluvial (or tributary) wells must be replaced with <br />alternative sources of water (called augmentation water) at the proper time and location to offset <br />injury to senior water rights. This is accomplished through the creation of augmentation plans. <br />The Well Augmentation Subdistrict's obligation is to determine the amount of augmentation <br />water needed for member wells, propose a method of replacement, and acquire/develop such <br />water supplies to make replacement to senior water rights. <br />Description of the Subdistrict <br />The Well Augmentation Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District is <br />located in northeast Colorado along the South Platte River in Adams, Morgan, and Weld <br />counties. Box Elder Creek, Beebe Draw, Big Thompson River, Cache la Poudre River, Crow <br />Creek, and St. Vrain Creek are primary subdrainages. The Subdistrict covers approximately 78 <br />square miles and is located wholly within the boundaries of the Central Colorado Water <br />Conservancy District as required by state law. <br />The terrain of the Subdistrict includes both alluvial fill of the South Platte River Valley as well <br />as semi-arid cultivated plains to the east. Precipitation varies between 12-14 inches per yeax, <br />however, irrigation has created a versatile and extensive agricultural economy. Diverse crops <br />such as corn, sweet corn, sugar beets, turf grass, small grains, pinto beans, onions, potatoes, <br />carrots, cucumbers, alfalfa, cabbage, and green peppers have contributed to making the growers <br />in the area a leading agriculture production area in the United States. <br />The water features of the area are in two forms - surface water resources in rivers and lakes, and <br />groundwater resources within the alluvial aquifer of the South Platte River. Streamflows on the <br />South Platte have occurred as high as 30,000 cfs at Kersey during flood events, but can decline <br />to below 50 cfs during periods of drought. This wide variation in flows has created great <br />incentive to develop surface water and groundwater storage projects in the area. <br />Financial Analysis of the Subdistrict <br />The Subdistrict total annual revenues are expected to be $2,913,794 in 2004, and are projected to <br />be $1,990,000 in 2005 as shown in Table l. The funds in 2004 are obtained from both one-time <br />initiation fees and annual assessments for the plan for augmentation. Income in 2005 includes <br />tax revenues. <br />2 <br />