PROJ00091 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I . . LA WMA' s Association Well Field consists of seven wells constructed into the Arkansas River alluvium, located on the north side of the Arkansas River downstream from the headgate of the Buffalo Canal. Historically, LAWMA has operated this well field during certain river conditions to pump water into the Buffalo Canal to satisfy some or all of its call. These wells were decreed as alternate points of diversion for the Buffalo Canal water right in Case No. 82CW9. LAWMA believes that the use of this well field can be effective in providing replacement water to upstream Colorado water rights during times when the Buffalo Canal would otherwise be calling against them. As part of this task, LAWMA will determine and document the extent to which the use of the well field is effective in providing replacement water to upstream Colorado water rights. The City of Lamar owns a battery of wells, which it uses to provide cooling water for its power plant. After cooling at the power plant, this water is discharged into the Lamar Canal. It is measured and accounted against the senior water rights used through the Lamar Canal. LA WMA believes that the discharge of this water into the Lamar Canal reduces the amount of water that upstream junior water rights are required to pass to satisfy the senior Lamar Canal water rights. The extent to which this discharge can be claimed as replacement water will be determined and documented. The final work item in this task will consist of comparing the replacement water available from these existing sources to the stream depletions calculated in Task 3. Task 5 - Identifvino and evaluatino other replacement sources. At this point in the study, information will be available as to the replacement water available from LAWMA's existing sources. Task 5, therefore, will involve the identification and evaluation of other replacement sources for potential acquisition by LAWMA. It is anticipated that the sources evaluated in this task will not be limited to the acquisition of water rights. Additional exchanges and the development of a recharge program may also be considered. It is also anticipated that some potential sources may be logical for consideration as joint ventures with the Water Conservation Board, Division of Wildlife, Colorado Water Development and Protective Association, or other entities. "Water banking" of interests in some ditches or acquisitions of interests that have value for permanent pools or wildlife area development are examples. This task will consist of the following three work items: a) The potential sources of replacement water will be identified through LAWMA's general knowledge of the Arkansas River basin and through contacts with knowledgeable individuals. b) Once a potential source has been identified, its historical use and consumptive use and its utility as replacement water will be assessed. c) Then, the value of the potential sources to LAWMA will be assessed. This value will be expressed in terms of dollars, acre-feet of replacement capability, and dollars per acre-foot of replacement capability. 6