BOARD02641

• Board Meeting Date: 11/16/2004
• Description: CF Section - New Loans - The Well Augmentation Subdistrict of Central Colorado Water Conservancy District - Water Rights Purchase and Gravel Pit Storage
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bruce Johnson, P.E, ~ :t.?,,~~' './ r
Mike Serlel, P.E., Chief -mJ
Water Supply Planning and Inance Section

Russell George
Executive Director

FROM:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE: Noveber5,2004

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 14d, November 16-17, 2004 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section - New Loans
The Well Augmentation Subdistrict of Central Colorado Water
Conservancy District - Water Rights Purchase and Gravel Pit Storage

Introduction

The Well Augmentation Subdistrict ryvAS Subdistrict), of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy
District, is applying for a $20,000,000 loan from the Severance Tax Trust Fund Perpetual Base
Account to purchase water rights and to construct lined gravel pit storage, in order to provide well
augmentation for its members. The total project cost is $22,200,000. Please see the attached
Project Data Sheet.

Backaround

The Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (Central) was formed in 1965 under the authority
of the 1937 Water Conservancy Act, and includes over 750 square miles in Adams, Morgan & Weld
counties. In 1973 a Groundwater Management Subdistrict (GMS Subdistrict), was formed to
provide well augmentation to its members. Currently the GMS Subdistrict covers 966 wells for 650
members. The GMS Subdistrict has received two CWCB loans totaling $20,000,000 for the
purpose of purchasing water rights and constructing gravel pit storage for well augmentation. A
$15,000,000 loan was approved in November 2002, and a $5,000,000 loan was approved in
November 2003.

On January 8, 2004, an additional subdistrict, the WAS Subdistrict, was formed to provide
augmentation water for junior well owners located in Adams, Morgan and Weld counties, most of
whom were previously covered under the GASP (Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte)
plan of augmentation. The WAS Subdistrict occupies about 78 square miles, with the largest
concentrations of wells in the following areas: south of Greeley along US 85 to Brighton, southeast
of Greeley extending to Keenesberg, and north of 1-76 between Wiggins and Fort Morgan. In 2004,
the irrigated acreage is 30,320 acres. Currently there are 220 Subdistrict members covering 440
wells, and the Board no longer accepts new members.

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning