WSP04948 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

.\,) , . - The ARBWMP would need to focus initially on the estimated average depletions to useable stateline flows of 20,000 acre-feet per year resulting from the pumping of 150,000 acre-feet per year on the long-term average. These values will become more refined as data on actual pumping becomes available in 1994 and thereafter. Return flows from transmountain sources offset the depletions to the Arkansas River resulting from the pumping of post-compact wells. These return flows were used to offset post-compact well pumping depletions during the 1950 to 1985 study period. The return flows reduced depletions to useable stateline flows to about 10,000 acre-feet per year. If these return flows could be legally acquired by the ARBWMP and made available in the Mure, these return flows would be an important component in a long-term augmentation program. The trans mountain return flows have averaged around 30,000 acre-feet in recent years and also augment some of the impact of well pumping upon senior canals in Colorado, If the ARBWMP leased 30,000 acre-feet per year of transmountain return flows of the current at the current cost , of $1 0 per acre-foot, it would cost $300,000 per year and reduce the amount of additional water to be acquired to approximately 10,000 acre-feet per year. Senior water rights located below John Martin Reservoir are currently on the market at a cost of $500 to $800 per acre-foot of consumptive use. If this water is acquired and the use changed to augmentation, legal and engineering costs could increase the total cost to approximately $1,000 per acre-foot. Assume that 12,000 acre-feet of consumptive use water is purchased to provide for 10,000 acre-feet of replacement water and 2,000 acre-feet of evaporation loss if stored in an account in John Martin. This would result in an acquisition cost of $12,000,000. The ARBWMP could amortize this purchase cost over 40 years at an Interest rate of 2 to 4 percent through a loan with the Colorado Water Conservation Board if the CWCB and the Legislature would authorize it, Annual payments would range between $365,000 at 2 percent to $600,000 at 4 percent. The administrative costs are difficult to estimate, but for the purposes of this discussion could be assumed to be $150,000 per year. The total annual cost of operation of the ARBWMP under the above assumptions would be between $815,000 to $1,050,000 per year. If fees were assessed on the basis of per acre-foot of pumping per year and the pumping averages 150,000 acre-feet per year, the cost to a well owner for each acre-foot pumped would be in the range of $5.43 to $7.00 per acre-foot. There may be other fee structures that would be viewed to be more equitable, taking into consideration the complex political and economic issues involved in the Arkansas River Basin. These would be considered by the Board of Directors as the project is developed, ARBWMP - 2-