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<br />Larimer and Weld IrrigalJon Co. <br />July 23-24,2Q02 <br /> <br />Agenda llem 19a <br /> <br />structures are concrete and range from 25 to 14 feet in width. Water is checked by inserting stop <br />logs (boards) into guides in the structure. The check structures have been in service since the <br />start of canal operations in the late 1800's, with only minor repairs until recently. In 2001 tvvo of <br />the check structures were replaced and in Spring 2002, three more were replaced. The new <br />checks have automated, air-operated Obermeyer gates to control the upstream water surface <br />elevation. Gate operation is automatic, with power supplied by photo-voltaic collectors through <br />storage batteries. This type of automatic gate has demonstrated significant improvements in canal <br />operation, and LWIC is planning to replace the remaining checks with similar installations. <br /> <br />Feasibility Studies <br /> <br />Duane Smith, P.E. of Smith Geotechnical Engineering Consultants of Fort Collins has completed <br />the feasibility study in accordance with CWCB guidelines. The study includes an assessment of <br />alternatives available for replacement of the check structures. <br /> <br />The Larimer and Weld IrriQation Company <br /> <br />The LWIC is a Colorado Mutual Ditch Company and a non-profit corporation registered in the State <br />of Colorado, in good standing. The Company was incorporated in 1879. There are 350 <br />shareholders and 1419 shares of stock. The LWIC exists in perpetuity and has the power to incur <br />indebtedness and to levy annual assessments to be paid by the shareholders. Those <br />stockholders failing to pay assessments duly levied by the Board of Trustees are ~subject to <br />provisions for the collection of assessments provided by law." <br /> <br />Water RiQhts <br /> <br />The LWIC holds some of the earlier rights on the Cache la Poudre River with decrees dating to <br />1884, and regularly diverts direct river flows up to the maximum decreed flow rate of 721 cfs. The <br />most significant source of carried water is Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) water. Reservoir water <br />from the Big Windsor Reservoir and non-direct flows from nine other sources also augment flows in <br />the canal at various times. Total water delivered through the Larimer & Weld system averages <br />approximately 90,000 acre-feet per year. <br /> <br />Proiect Description <br /> <br />Three alternatives were analyzed in the feasibility study: <br /> <br />1. No-action alternative. <br />2. Repair existing checks and add one new check at Hurrich ($487,125). <br />3. Replacement of all checks with new concrete structures using Obermeyer control gates <br />(51,054,600). <br /> <br />Alternative 1, No-action, was not considered viable for the system to continue to operate, unless <br />irrigated land is taken out of production and the water stock liquidated. The system age (in excess <br />of 100 years) and the level of deterioration of the structures have made operation difficult and <br />unsafe. Replacement or repair of the structures must be pursued if the ditch company is to <br />continue to operate. <br /> <br />Alternative 2. Repair existing checks and add one new check at Hurrich, while less expensive than <br />the replacement alternative has several disadvantages. The patched and repaired structures <br />would have a shorter life span needing complete replacement in 30 to 40 years, while the new <br />structures could last up to 100 years with repair on gates and controls required every 25 years. <br />Also, the method of checking the ditch with stop logs. difficult and dangerous on a ditch of this size, <br /> <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />