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| Good afternoon everyone,
This forum has been immensely useful to our family and getting valuable information. We are new farmers appreciate everyone's input and helping us get going.
Our property is located in Eastern Colorado at about 6,400 feet. The property came with documentation regarding water rights. It appears the previous owner had and approved well permit for 16 acre feet at a depth of 200 to 750 ft with a max production of 500 gallons per minute.
From the paperwork it appears that water rights were adjudicated in just about every level of water except the alluvium.
I have contacted several well companies in the area and have received different feedback about what is possible.
Most recently, I received a quote for $112,000 to install a 750 ft well with a 30 gallon per minute, 10 horsepower, electric pump.
Both of our neighbors are large multi-thousand acre properties that produce sod and have multiple large pivots per property.
We have a small 40 acre property, but would like to explore irrigation options to make the most out of what we have. Currently we are growing a mixture of cereals and forages. It would be great to have higher yields and maybe even flexibility in terms of what we grow.
What are your thoughts? If you are familiar with the Colorado water right system, do you think we should speak with an attorney and explore other options in terms of gaining access to the alluvium? Does this quote seem reasonable?
Also, if you're familiar with center pivot irrigation, what would be required in order to get a center pivot up and running on our property? I've considered going with the quote, installing a pond or a series of large above ground cisterns and pumping from them with a larger pump (500-1000 gpm).
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Irrigation Suggestions Needed
