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<br />07/31/2002 14:50 <br /> <br />9708575299 <br /> <br />GASP <br /> <br />rHI.:lC- UL. <br /> <br /> <br />Groundwater Appropriators of the <br />South Platte River Basin Inc. <br /> <br />P. 0, Box 974 . 219 E. Railroad Ave. <br />Fort Mo,~an, Colorado 80701 <br />970-867-5298 <br /> <br />July 23,2002 <br /> <br />Mr. Rod Kuharich <br />Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Kuharich: <br /> <br />As you know, this water year has been the most challenging one in several <br />generations. I would like to explain to you our current circumstances so that you can <br />factor them into your activities. <br /> <br />At the end of last year, our resources were nearly exhausted due to increased <br />augmentation needs and excessive pumping expenses. As a resuit, the Board of Directors <br />and the membership decided that increased fees were in order and the assessments were <br />raised by 30%. This is the sole source of financing for GASP, In addition, funds in excess <br />of $200,000 were set aside for the purchase of permanent water supplies. . <br /> <br />This year started with river calls in April and have been continuous since that <br />time. and has the appearance of extending through out the balance of the iIrigation season <br />which is well beyond anything experienced before, As a result, even with the increased <br />revenues, all money has been spent or committed for this year, including those set aside <br />for the purchase of peon anent supplies, Now, there are a few more opportunities <br />emerging, but all funds have been exhausted. It appears that if the current water <br />arrangements can be finalized, we may be able to keep wells running long enough to get <br />this year's crops finished. Specifically, two regions could be satisfied with more <br />augmentation. One area is below Sterling where the augmentation technique consists of <br />operating wells far from the river such that depletion impacts should not be felt until after <br />the current drought conditions are over, In most cases the impact will occur several years <br />from now, A.nother area that can be helped is between Denver and Greeley and in that <br />case, non-tributary effluent is available from municipal wastewater plants, GASP has :j <br />about 3000 wells currently in its augmentation program and not all of them are fully <br />covered for the remainder of this irrigation season, These remedial steps should allo~! . J f <br />to assure our customers that this season can be completed without intenuption. vJ1 ~' 1> . <br /> <br /> <br />qQ ~ ~ ..- \\\fJ <br />~{t~~~ J <br /> <br />{ <br />0- <br />