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<br />, <br /> <br />,- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />sTATE OF€OLORArSO <br />- <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />""21 Centennial Building <br />~313 Sherman Street <br />Den_. Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3441 <br />FAX: (303) 866-4474 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Roy Romer <br />Governor <br /> <br />lAmes S. LochheAd <br />Executive Director. ONR <br />D.lriesC.lile.P.E. <br />Oirtx:{or. CWCB <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board Members <br /> <br />Bill Green and Jan lIIian ~~ <br />Project Planning and Constnuct~ Section <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: January 27, 1997 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Agenda Item 13., January 29-30, 1997, Board Meeting - Water Project <br />Construction Loan Program - Lower Arkansas Water Management Association _ <br />Feasibility Study Loan <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The Lower Arkansas Water Management Association (LAWMA) is applying to the CWCS for a Construction <br />Fund loan in the amount of $65,000 to conduct a feasibility study of obtaining additional water sources for its <br />.mentation program in the Arkansas River basin. ThEhequest is for 100% of the estimated cost of the study. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />An initial feasibility study for LAWMA's augmentation program was submitted in July 1995 by Helton & <br />Williamsen. That study analyzed LAWMA's well pumping, pumping depletions, and replacement obligations and <br />provided the framework for an augmentation program_ The ewcs staff concurred in the conclusions of the <br />1995 feasibility study and requested further refinement for some of the information in the study report. In <br />response, Helton & Williamsen submitted a Supplemental Feasibility Report in March 1996 which provided <br />additional detail on specific sources of augmentation water and expanded on certain other aspects of program <br />operation, water rights acquisition, and a detailed financial analysis. <br /> <br />Based on the results of the 1995 and 1996 studies, the Board approved a Construction Fund loan of $3.75 <br />million in January 1996 for the purchase of the X- Y Ranch and water rights and for the purchase of shares in the <br />Manvel Canal and Irrigation Company. LAWMA used those rights, along with water from other sources, during <br />t1ie 1996 irrigation season to operate under a replacement program approved by the State Engineer. <br /> <br />The 1996 replacement program calculated well depletions and replacement water requirements based on 1991- <br />1995 average pumping. Discussions with the State engineer indicate that LAWMA's replacement requirements <br />will be more stringent in the future and may include considerations of timing with respect to both Colorado <br />surface rights and Usable Stateline Flow and the delivery of additional water to the Stateline. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />Based on the discussions with the State Engineer, LAWMA has decided to proceed with an additional feasibility <br />s. and the appraisal of certain water rights in order to: <br /> <br />. reevaluate LAWMA's replacement requirements under a more stringent operating program in the future, <br />