Laserfiche WebLink
<br />H...., & WILLIAMSEN. PC. 30311II165 <br /> <br />AITACHMENT <br />Agenda Item CFc <br />January 19, 1994 <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. '\V' <br />LAWMA is interested also in conserving municipal and irrigation water supplias, in W <br />encouraging additional agricultural production through better water management, and in .8 <br />mak.ing relatively small quantities of water available for future municipal and commercial tj/ <br />development in its area of influence. LA WMA raises the money to cover its expenses through ~ <br />annual assessmants levied on its members, These assessments are based on the decreed <br />rates of its members' wells. <br /> <br />Of(I1, <br />.9riginally, 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 01 all wells in Water District 67. These wells involve a maximum <br />pumping capacity estimated at more than 1.250 cIs (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 weils 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, 'fhese written plans have been based on several <br />sources o'f 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 Ark.ansas River alluvium <br />~uring 1974-76 as part of the "Buffalo Demonstration Proiect". These wells are referred to <br />herein as the "Association Well Field" and are located on the north side of the Arkansas River <br />!-lnder the Buffalo Canal. These wells have b@en 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 Mllrtin Reservair _ These wells <br />were decreed as alternate points of diversior1 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. )n 1989. LAWMA <br />acquired the water right far the Stubbs Ditch; In 1993, LAWMA acquired 300 shares in the <br />t:!:!anvel Canal and Irrigation Companv~ <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 af 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 t 994 <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 />deplotion from tho pumpage, and replacomont requirements. 011 in terms of ouantities, ~, <br />and locatian, <br /> <br />2 <br />