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Institutional and historical background <br /> LAWMA was formed in 1973 as a membership association for the primary purpose of providing <br /> replacement water to allow its members to operate their irrigation wells under the rules and <br /> regulations enacted by the State Engineer for administration of ground water use in the Arkansas <br /> River Valley. After the State of Colorado was sued by the State of Kansas in 1985, and the <br /> Colorado State Engineer in 1995 adopted stricter rules and regulations governing well pumping <br /> in the Valley, LAWMA's importance increased. In light of the rulings of the Special Master and <br /> the U.S. Supreme Court in Kansas v. Colorado, LAWMA's purpose evolved to include the <br /> development of a program to replace well depletions both to Colorado surface water rights and to <br /> usable flow at the Colorado-Kansas stateline in accordance with Colorado law and the Arkansas <br /> River Compact. In 1998, LAWMA re-organized as a non-profit corporation and is now operated <br /> in a manner similar to a typical Colorado mutual ditch company. LAWMA has purchased direct <br /> flow and storage water rights at a cost of$8.75 million to develop a water rights portfolio so that <br /> its members may continue to pump their wells. Replacement water is delivered to the Arkansas <br /> River to make up or replace the depletions to the stream flow caused by pumping the wells. <br /> LAWMA's purchases of direct flow water rights and storage, leases of water rights, and <br /> operational agreements have been pooled to allow its members to continue the use of their <br /> irrigation wells while developing a marketable asset that can also be used for other purposes. <br /> The predominant use of water by LAWMA's members is for agriculture, but members also use <br /> the water for commercial, municipal,domestic, and industrial uses. <br /> LAWMA is governed by Articles and By-Laws. The seven-person Board of Directors is made <br /> of volunteers who serve three-year terms after election by the membership, which meets at least <br /> once a year to elect the Board. The current Directors are as follows: <br /> Director Address Telephone Term Office <br /> Mr.William J.Grasmick P.O.Box 287, (719)734-5422 2012— President <br /> Granada,CO 81041 2014 <br /> Mr.William O.Broyles P.O. Box 7,Lamar, (719)336-8701 2010— Director <br /> CO 81052 2012 <br /> Mr.Donald F.Higbee P.O.Box 1161, (719)336-9696 2010— Secretary/ <br /> Lamar,CO 81052 2012 Treasurer <br /> Mr.Donald Seufer 35737 County Road (719)537-6046 2012— Director <br /> JJ,Holly,CO 81047 2014 <br /> Mr.Robert Wilger 10821 County Road (719)336-7612 2011 — Vice-President <br /> LL,Bristol,CO 2013 <br /> 81028 <br /> Mr. Greg Spitzer P.O.Box 246, (719)829-4332 2010— Director <br /> Wiley,CO 81092 2012 <br /> Mr.Ronald Peterson P.O.Box 732, (719)336-3479 2011 — Director <br /> Lamar,CO 81052 2013 <br /> LAWMA is a non-profit corporation with tax-exempt status. A copy of LAWMA's current <br /> determination letter indicating that status is attached. <br />