2011-11-28_HYDROLOGY - M1988112 (2)

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Colorado Division of Water Resources June 23, 2011 Page 6 Under the proposed SWSP, BMRI requests that these sources be used as the augmentation supplies for augmenting any depletions associated with the West Pit and alluvial well pumping and TMF operation. As part of the application for Case No. 07CW42, the historic consumptive use associated with three parcels (the East Pivot, the West Pivot, and the Reservoir Parcel, shown in Figure 3) was evaluated using the following information: (1) Water Commissioner diversions records obtained from the Colorado Division of Water Resources Division 3 office in Alamosa, Colorado; (2) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop records obtained from the San Luis Farm Service Agency office; (3) Information provided by the most recent owner of the Salazar Ranch, Mr. Sandy Cooper; (4) Xcel Energy records; (5) Aerial photographs; and (6) Trial testimony regarding the Salazar Ranch water rights. Table 2 shows the results of the monthly historic consumptive use evaluation for each type of irrigation for the period 1985 to 2005. Under the proposed SWSP, BMRI would use the dry-up of historically - irrigated lands at the Salazar Ranch as consumptive use credits to provide augmentation water to offset depletive effects associated with pumping of the West Pit wells, use of water at the TMF, and/or precipitation and storm water runoff capture. Given that the expected depletions under this SWSP are approximately 155 ac -ft for 2011, BMRI has retired all the historically flood - irrigated land (approximately 85 acres, resulting in 89.5 ac -ft/yr of historic consumptive use) and all of the land historically irrigated under the East Pivot (approximately 120 acres, resulting in approximately 160 ac -ft/yr of historic consumptive use) to cover the expected depletions under this SWSP. BMRI continues to irrigate alfalfa located under the West Pivot (approximately 200 acres, resulting in a consumptive use of approximately 270 ac- ft/yr). Table A -3 (Appendix A) shows the estimated depletive effects and augmentation credits available on a monthly basis. While BMRI has enough historic consumptive use credits to fully augment the depletions, these credits are available only in the growing months. Thus, to augment wintertime depletions, BMRI proposes to store excess historic use water available in the growing months in Salazar Reservoir and/or in- priority water available under the Salazar Reservoir rights for later