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<br />Central Colorado WCD - Well Augmentation Subdistrict
<br />November 16-17. 2004
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<br />Agenda Item 14d
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<br />The WAS Subdistrict's 2004 Substitute Water Supply Plan was approved by the State Engineer's
<br />Office (SEa) on April 29, 2004, and is valid until March 31, 2005. Water supplies for the 2004 plan
<br />included: leased water, alluvial return credits, recharge credits, excess replacement water from the
<br />GMS Subdistrict, bypass flows, and augmentation wells. The WAS permanent Augmentation Plan
<br />will go to Water Court in May 2006. Most sources for the 2004 plan are not permanent and the
<br />WAS Subdistrict needs to secure a permanent supply to cover its depletions.
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<br />In an average year the WAS Subdistrict will need to replace approximately 10,100 acre feet of
<br />depletions from 440 wells. Currently they have acquired 153 acre feet, so they need to acquire/
<br />develop an additional 9,947 acre feet. The proposed project will provide a total of 8,066 acre feet
<br />(4,066 acre feet in water rights acquisitions and 4,000 acre feet in gravel pit storage.) They will
<br />need to acquire the remaining 1,881 acre feet, at a later date, and lease that amount in the interim.
<br />With the water developed from the proposed loan and their existing water, the WAS Subdistrict
<br />would be in ownership of about 80% of the water they need to cover their depletions. Costs to
<br />purchase senior water rights are about $3,500 (consumptive) per acre foot around Greeley, and
<br />$3,000 per acre foot around Fort Morgan, and the cost to develop lined gravel pit storage is $2500
<br />per acre foot.
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<br />On November 2,2004 the WAS Subdistrict held an election to authorize incurring debt and
<br />establishment of a mill levy rate of up to 9 mills, for the purchase of water rights, and construction of
<br />water storage facilities. The election passed with 75% of the WAS members voting in favor. Based
<br />on their assessed valuation, they can borrow up to approximately $20,000,000.
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<br />Feasibility Studies
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<br />Central has completed a feasibility study in accordance with CWCB guidelines. The study includes
<br />an assessment of alternative scenarios for obtaining well augmentation supplies.
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<br />WAS Subdistrict - Central Colorado Water Conservancy District
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<br />The WAS Subdistrict was created by the Weld County District Court on January 8, 2004, pursuant
<br />to the applicable provisions of the 'Water Conservancy Act", Section 37-45-101, C.R.S. It is
<br />governed by a 16 member Board of Directors. At present, the officers are Mr. Jim Reasoner,
<br />President, Mr. Gary Herman, Vice-President, Vem Kammerzell, Treasurer and Tom Cech,
<br />Secretary. The assessed valuation of the WAS Subdistrict is about $100,000,000. The proposed
<br />mill levy is 9.00 mills, the maximum allowed by law, up from the current mill levy of 3.0 mills.
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<br />The WAS Subdistrict obtains revenues from property tax revenues and from augmentation
<br />assessments. Total annual revenues expected in 2004 are expected to be $2,913,794 (including
<br />one-time initiation fees of $1,974,000), and in 2005 are expected to be about $1,990,000. In 2006,
<br />property tax revenues are expected to generate about $1,125,000 with augmentation assessments
<br />generating about $1,100,000.
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<br />Water Riahts
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<br />The WAS Subdistrict has been active in acquiring water rights for use in the plan for augmentation.
<br />Water rights owned are:
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<br />Farmer's Independent Ditch (Gilcrest) 53.14 acre-feet
<br />Goffrey Bottom Ditch (LaSalle) 99.44 acre-feet
<br />TOTAL 152.58 acre-feet
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