PROJ00495

• Contract/PO #: C153678
• Contractor Name: Lower Arkansas Water Management Association
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 67
• County: Prowers
• Bill Number: SB 96-124
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Table 15 shows an accounting for usable Stateline flow after deliveries from these
replacement sources. It shows the increases in usable Stateline flow from the deliveries from
all LAWMA's non-discretionary sources. It then shows the increases in usable Stateline flow
from the direct flow components of the Stubbs and X-V water rights and from the elimination
of pumping on the X-V Ranch. In each case, the increases were calculated using results from
various runs of the Kansas H-I model, and are judged to be reasonable by this consultant. In
addition, a reasonable allowance was made for some consumptive use to continue to occur
on the X-V Ranch if the land is sold to the Division of Wildlife. The principle to remember here
is that deliveries of replacement water to Colorado surface rights also increase the flow at the
Stateline because of return flows therefrom.

The use of these replacement sources would increase usable State line flow by an
estimated 6,614 acre-feet, leaving a shortfall of 1,362 acre-feet. LAWMA would still have
a small amount of account water that it could deliver directly to the Kansas account. It is
recommended, however, that LAWMA acquire additional water rights sufficient to provide
1,000 to 1,500 acre-feet of additional consumptive use credits. In the interim, this water can
be purchased from Pueblo, Colorado Springs, or from water users in Water District 67 (from
the transit loss account residual).

The flexibility in the use, but not necessarily the value, of the X-V and Manvel water
rights for augmentation would be reduced somewhat if the 1980 Operating Plan is terminated
for some reason. Demands for releases of conservation storage could be made under both
water rights as provided in the Compact, and both water rights could be called on a direct
flow basis. The water thusly obtained could be identified and left in the river as replacement
deliveries to Colorado surface rights or to usable Stateline flow. In this event, a percentage
distribution agreement among the water users in Water District 67 would be necessary to
maintain the full value of the Manvel water right. The yield of the X-V water right would
actually increase without a percentage distribution agreement since it can divert a larger
percentage of conservation storage under the priority system. The issue of the legality of the
1980 Operating Plan should be resolved prior to LAWMA's closing date in October 1996.

This consultant recommends that LAWMA operate this augmentation plan for at least
a few years under Rule 5 of the 1973 Rules and Regulations or the equivalent in new rules
and regulations before any effort is made to adjudicate a permanent plan for augmentation.

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