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The acquirer itself is estimated to be about 5 by 25 miles wide and 6,000 feet thick, The city believes geologic faults and ridges confine the aquifer and that other users will not be impacted, The city estimates that there is currently 16 million-acre feet of water stored in the aquifer, . In the first phase of the project, the city plans to develop 12 wells on the ranch, although 26 wells are requested in its water rights application, The project would have an average annual pumping rate of7,000-acre feet. Each well is expected to be about 1,000 to 2,000 feet deep and able to pump as much as 1,000 gallons per minute, . The total estimated project cost is $39,78 million. Based on the estimated average annual yield of 5,520-acre feet, the cost per acre-foot is expected to be $7,210, Opponents of the project fear that the project would result in the aquifer being pumped dry, Therefore, in a draft water rights decree the city is circulating, the city is proposing provisions requiring a surface and ground water monitoring program, Monitoring would be conducted for three years prior to the commencement of operations. An operational trial has been tentatively set for the summer of the 2000, The city maintains that existing wells in the area use water from a different aquifer. The city believes this project is necessary to address growth related needs, The city has a policy of developing 10,000-acre feet of new supply every decade for three decades. This is based on a projected growth rate of 50,000 new residents per decade, This growth rate has remained steady since the 1960's, The city says it has adopted water conservation programs and has a very low per capita water use rate, . The city has not applied for any specific development permits, including a permit it will need from the federal Bureau of Land Management to construct a 17,000 acre foot reservoir that will be used as a recharge facility. The city also recognizes that the major water rights holder that would be impacted by the diversion of surface water would be the CWeB because it holds an instream flow water right on Terryall Creek, There would also be deminimus impacts on Jefferson Creek. The city of Aurora and the City of Thomton own about 75 percent of the surface water rights in the area. ### .