From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
The Catlin Augmentation Association filed a change case in Division 2 water court last month to allow about twothirds of the shares on the canal to include augmentation for wells or surface-fed sprinklers as a use. “The well augmentation groups are having a harder time finding water,” said John Schweizer, Catlin Canal president. “They can use part of their own water by taking some acreage out of production.”
The practice has been occurring under a substitute water supply plan, but the state Division of Water Resources requires a court decree after 10 years of operating that type of plan. The decree specifies that Catlin Canal shares may only be used for replacement water within the ditch’s boundaries, which is following bylaws, Schweizer said…
The court case mentions both well augmentation and using the water for Rule 10 plans under the 2010 surface irrigation rules. Water rights owners include members of both the Colorado Water Protective and Development Association and the Arkansas Groundwater Users Association.
The change would not allow water rights to be used for the Arkansas Valley Super Ditch, which is operating a pilot program with Catlin, said Schweizer, who is also president of the Super Ditch.