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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />GVWM Flow Protection Plan <br /> <br />December 19, 1994 <br />4:02pm <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />dministra. . li S,~~ h k . 'l-;l~ 'EleQ ~. G-'IIC':II <br />a tIve po cy r~.d 'll c ec operatIon, : 1 proYl '\"Me~ tni 'llt'r ng t. <br />By'..sing ~8 "~1-r;;k" h..- ~ care of f ~rtageyto the 120-cfs junior ~ht of GVIC (the most , ^ <br />junior part of the Cameo group),'~s water was 1I8e088 from ~, and _0 lIf!>iJedi <br />extensive a~\!!~s,tJ;ll!ion of the river,. ~ 9ll ll~, This river administration policy <br />continued1.'.despItemeobjections of the GVWUA and OMID, who maintained that their <br />ap-eement for operating the "check" was private and carried no responsibility to serve/~unior w",\-----'- <br />nghts..\"' ~\.o... 'Q"""" , all <br /> <br />Impacts to Orchard Mesa Irri!!ation District due to "Check" Qperations <br /> <br />Lowering the radial gates on the "check" structure causes the water level in the power/pumping <br />plant tailrace to rise, which decreases the efficiency of the hydraulic pumps and the powerplant. <br />As the radial gates are lowered, the flow in the bypass channel increases, the water surface <br />elevation in the tailrace gradually increases which gradually decreases both pumping capacity <br />and electrical power generation. At the maximum flow in the bypass channel, the ability to <br />pump irrigation water and generate power has been estimated to decrease by 12 percent. <br />Consequently, OMID uses the check and bypass channel only if they have made an out of <br />priority diversion at the Grand Valley Project diversion dam and need to return the water to the <br />river to satisfy GVIC's demands. ' <br />~e\;\ <~t'o",,\~e- e'o(' , <br />OMID also ~ beert;Jlaymg all operation and maintenance costs for the "check" and bypass <br />channel since ~y"2 . constructed. By operating the "check" to benefit junior rights, OMID <br />has provided a service to water users throughout the Colorado River basin, while experiencing <br />water shortages and increased operating costs. Annual power revenues paid to OMID and <br />GVWUA have averaged over $200,000 per year for the last five years. In addition, the Public <br />Service Company of Colorado derives revenue from operating the plant. <br /> <br />The OMID would not be willing to operate the check for the benefit of junior water rights <br />without compensation for lost power revenues and some means to supplement pumping capacity. <br />The frequency at which this situation would occur would have to be eval~ted,~!, determine if <br />the costs are justified. The cost of the power lost could be significanf,~'as" thetbtal power <br />generation averages about $17,OOO/month. ' <br />~bc g':'1I81'&te!l-: The supplemental pumping capability which would be necessary to replace the <br />12 percent loss of pumping capacity, would result in an annual cost of about $100,000 for a <br />22 cfs pumping plant operating for 60 days/year. A more detailed analysis of the impacts of <br />check operation on power generation and pumping capacity based on historic data is currently <br />being conducted as part of the on going Orchard Mesa Check Exchange application settlement <br />discussions. <br /> <br />8 <br />