PROJ00273

• Contract/PO #: C153368
• Contractor Name: Cache LaPoudre Water Development Study
• Water District: 0
• County: Larimer
• Bill Number: SB 81-439
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

Mountain National Park. This high mountain area, comprising only about 15
percent of the upper basin drainage area, produces about 50 percent of the
native runoff from the upper basin.

Transmountain diversions from the drainages west of the basin augment the
native flows in the basin. These "foreign waters", which form a significant
contribution to the total water supply in the basin, also originate primarily
from snowmelt in adjacent high mountain watersheds.

H. PRBSER'l' WATER USE

The major use of water in the Cache la Poudre River basin is for irIigated
agriculture. There is a small amount of irrigated hay and pasture in the
upper basinl however, the developed agriculture is primarily in the lower
basin. Although there is some dryland farming, agriculture in the lower basin
is largely limited to irrigation farming in lower lying areas accessible to
diversion of streamflows. Presently, there are about 225,000 acres of
irrigated agriculture in the service area of the Cache la Poudre River.

The service area is comprised of lands in the lower basin and some
adjacent areas to the east which are served by diversions from the Cache la
Poudre River, The service area has widely diversified agriculture including
native hay, alfalfa, corn, sugar beets, potatoes, beans, barley, oats and
winter wheat. The principal agricultural industries are general farming,
livestock feeding, and dairying. Alfalfa and corn are usually raised for
consumption in the area by feeder cattle and sheep.

Rapid population growth in recent years has made municipal and industrial
water needs in the lower basin an increasingly important aspect of water
use. The metropolitan areas of Greeley and Fort Collins are the major
municipal and industrial water userSI however, smaller towns such as Windsor
are experiencing significant population growth with an accompanying increase
in water use. Establishment and expansion of industries such as Ideal Cement
Company, Eastman Kodak, and Hewlett-Packard, along with the growth of Colorado
State University and the University of Northern Colorado have contributed
substantially to this overall population growth.

I. WATER USE llIft"ITIES AIlD BlIS'rIIlG FACILI'rIES

1. Inventory of Entities and Bxist~ Facilities

Major water use entities in the basin are listed on Table 11-4. As
shown in the table, the majority of these water users have joined together to
form the Cache la Poudre Water Users Association. 'I'his organization was
formed to coordinate and facilitate the beneficial use of water resources in
the basin. The majority of these entities are also participants in the
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District which is the operating entity for
the Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities. A municipal sub-district of the
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will administer the use of Windy-
Gap Project flows through the COlorado-Big Thompson Project facilities. The
Windy-Gap Project is presently under construction.

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