Laserfiche WebLink
Water Rights <br />(See Exhibits F &G for share certificates and well decree) <br />Water Availability <br />The Ordway Feedyard owns 569 shares of Colorado Canal water paired with Lake Meredith and Lake <br />Henry, along with 2 Twin Lake Shares. The company has recently entered into a 15 -year lease for 700 of <br />per year with Pueblo Board of Water Works. The company also owns the River Ranch, nearly 15 miles <br />from the feedyard, which includes 20 wells decreed for irrigation and stock watering. Some farming is done <br />at the ranch, but the water is inaccessible for feedyard until the proposed project is complete. <br />Water is delivered from Pueblo Reservoir through the Colorado Canal, stored in Lake Henry and piped to <br />the feedyard. <br />As mentioned above, transit and evaporative loss using the current delivery and storage regime were <br />66% in 2012, 954 acre feet of water lost. The proposed project accesses the company's water right <br />through the River Ranch wells, leaving Colorado Canal shares and leased water in the Arkansas River <br />and using them for augmentation. Transit loss under the new plan would total approximately 104 acre <br />feet. Water savings will be around 850 acre feet per year. <br />The wells on the farm are under the Colorado Water Protective and Development Association. In a <br />normal year the wells are allocated around 1,000 af. In dry years, the company will forgo farming in <br />order to provide water necessary to feedlot operations. <br />Developing access to the River Ranch wells gives the company increased flexibility in meeting water <br />needs, provides a cleaner water supply, and increases the stability of the water supply. Four of the <br />existing 20 wells will be utilized by this project. Depending upon on water availability, the remaining <br />wells will be used for farming. <br />At this time, potable water is used by the company for its office and for its mill; approximately 500,000 <br />gallons per month, or 14 of per year of potable water. This water is purchased from 96 Pipeline <br />Company. Water quality from the wells is adequate for human consumption, and the company plans to <br />replace the potable water that is currently being used for feed mill purposes. <br />Water Supply Demands <br />Ordway Feedyard will likely continue to purchase Colorado Canal shares when they become available to <br />further stabilize and add flexibility to their water system. <br />It is estimated that the proposed project will ensure a sustainable water supply for the foreseeable <br />future of the company. <br />Project Description - Analysis of Alternatives <br />Description ofAlternatives <br />Alternative 1 <br />No- action alternative. This alternative was considered unacceptable because it would <br />mean the likely demise of the company. <br />Alternative 2 <br />Rehabilitate existing structures, and install a pipeline from River Ranch wells to the Feedyard. <br />As this alternative was explored, it became obvious that other alternatives just placed the <br />pipeline and booster stations in different locations and were not true alternatives. Project <br />