C153808 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C153808
• Contractor Name: Arkansas Groundwater Users Association
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 14
• County: Pueblo
• Bill Number: ARA
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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(e)

(f)

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(g)

(h)

Loan will serve the needs of a broad group of users other than a specific user.

The entire membership of AGUA will benefit from purchase of the Excelsior Ditch, as
this water right will be used to reduce a portion of the total augmentation requirement
and will result in less reliance upon leased water rights.

Loan will assist in maintaining agricultural viability of the Arkansas River valley.

Approximately 95 percent of AGUA's water use is for irrigation. AGUA records
indicate that these wells irrigate a total of approximately 12,500 acres. Numerous
AGUA members have identified their wells as the sole source of water supply on their
farms. Thus, a CWCB loan to purchase augmentation water for AGUA's Arkansas River
replacement plan will assist in maintaining the agricultural viability of the Arkansas
River valley by allowing AGUA's membership to continue to use their wells for
irrigation and provide a reliable source of water that is not subject to availability from a
lessor.

Applicant obtains commitments from its members that any such member who fails to
make payments in accordance with the loan agreement shall cease pumping water.

Appendix D includes a copy of the 1997 Application and Membership agreement,
wherein each AG UA member signs a statement that says a loan has been secured from
the CWCB and an account has been established for repayment. Under State statute,
creating the loan account, well users that accept the benefit of the loan must agree to
cease pumping should they fail to pay membership dues; and that by virtue of the
applicants membership in AGUA, the applicant accepts the benefits of the loan
account and will cease pumping if full membership dues are not paid (see Statement of
Verification and Membership Agreement, page 4).

Applicant obtains commitments from its members to comply with any rules or changes
to rules, as promulgated or amended by the State Engineer that govern the
measurement of groundwater withdrawals and the use of such groundwater in the
Arkansas River basin.

Please see Appendix D, page 4, Statement of Verification and Membership Agreement,
where the AGUA member agrees to such a stipulation.

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