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<br />II <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />HISTORY OF LAWMA <br /> <br />The Lower Arkansas Water Management Association is a non-profit corporation that <br />was formed in 1973 for the primary purpose of providing replacement water to allow its <br />members to continue to operate their wells without regard to the Rules and Regulations. <br />LAWMA is interested also in conserving municipal and irrigation water supplies, in <br />encouraging additional agricultural production through better water management, and in <br />making relatively small quantities of water available for future municipal and commercial <br />development in its area of influence. LAWMA raises the money to cover its expenses through <br />annual assessments levied on its members. These assessments are based on the decreed <br />rates of its members' wells. <br /> <br />Originally, when LAWMA was formed, its members operated about 300 wells. Its <br />membership has grown steadily since that time. Today, its members own or operate 461 <br />wells, or about 60 percent of all wells in Water District 67. These wells involve a maximum <br />pumping capacity estimated at more than 1,250 cfs (an average of about 1,200 gpm per <br />well). The members' irrigation wells have a total decreed pumping capacity of more than <br />1,140 cfs and provide supplemental or full water supplies for about 50,000 acres of land. <br />The members' municipal and commercial wells involve a pumping capacity of more than 100 <br />cfs. <br /> <br />As previously mentioned, LAWMA has obtained approval from the Division Engineer <br />for its written plans every year since 1973. These written plans have been based on several <br />sources of replacement water that have been developed by LAWMA over the years. Its first <br />source of water was a series of seven wells constructed into the Arkansas River alluvium <br />during 1974-76 as part of the "Buffalo Demonstration Project". These wells are referred to <br />herein as the" Association Well Field" and are located on the north side of the Arkansas River <br />under the Buffalo Canal. These wells have been operated by LAWMA to satisfy part or all of <br />the call from the Buffalo Canal. They also have been operated to satisfy part of the Buffalo <br />Call when Kansas account water is being released from John Martin Reservoir. These wells <br />were decreed as alternate points of diversion for the Buffalo Canal water right in Case No. <br />82CW9. In addition, LAWMA has purchased "Article II water" from the owners of the <br />Manvel, and Sisson-Stubbs water rights for inclusion into its written plans. In 1989, LAWMA <br />acquired the water right for the Stubbs Ditch. In 1993, LAWMA acquired 300 shares in the <br />Manvel Canal and Irrigation Company. <br /> <br />In 1993, LAWMA initiated a comprehensive program to develop additional data and <br />information concerning its members wells and their usage. As part of this program, Helton <br />& Williamsen, P.C. was retained to prepare a data base for the wells in Water District 67 and <br />maps showing the locations of these wells. Also, LAWMA made arrangements with <br />Southeastern Colorado Pump Testing and Irrigation Efficiency Association to test the wells <br />owned or operated by its members. These tests include determinations of pumping rates, well <br />efficiencies, and power coefficients. At the present time, data has been obtained for <br />approximately one-half of LAWMA's wells, either through well tests or direct measurement <br />of pumpage. LAWMA anticipates that data will be obtained for the remaining wells in 1994 <br />and that all its members' wells will be retested in an interval not longer than once every four <br />years. These data will be used by LAWMA to assess the pumpage from the wells, the stream <br />depletion from the pumpage, and replacement requirements, all in terms of quantities, timing, <br />and location. <br /> <br />2 <br />