Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Springdale Ditch Company <br />May 19-20. 2003 <br /> <br />Agenda Item 18b <br />(Updated May 27, 2003) <br /> <br />The Sprinadale Ditch Company <br />The SDc is a Colorado non-profit Ditch Company registered in the State of Colorado. There are <br />52 shareholders and 831.5 shares of stock. The SDC has the power to set annual assessments <br />to be paid by the shareholders and the power to refuse to deliver water to shareholders that fail <br />to pay their assessments. <br /> <br />Water Riahts <br />The SDC has rights to divert 62.5 cfs from the South Platte River under an 1886 decree, and <br />diverts on average approximately 7,147 acre-feet of water per year through their ditch. <br /> <br />The 52 shareholders of the SDC also have decrees on 43 wells used for irrigating the 4,490 <br />acres under their system. These wells are currently augmented through GASP. The SDC <br />diverts on average approximately 3,500 acre-feet of water per year through these 43 wells. <br /> <br />The SDC is applying for an augmentation water right for this project, which would allow them to <br />divert up to 4,000 acre-feet per year. This would be used to cover the depletions of the 43 junior <br />wells, as well as provide additional water to augment other wells outside the Springdale system. <br /> <br />Proiect Description <br />Three alternatives were analyzed in the feasibility study: <br /> <br />1) Don't build a project. Continue to rely solely upon GASP for augmentation. <br /> <br />2) Purchase a senior water right and use it for augmentation. <br /> <br />3) Construct a series of recharge ponds, one augmentation well, and 2 recharge wells to <br />generate the needed augmentation credits. <br /> <br />Alternative 1: "Don't build a project. Continue to rely solely upon GASP for augmentation." is <br />not a feasible alternative. SDC would continue to depend on GASP for augmentation, and upon <br />supplies secured by GASP on a one-year lease basis. If any of these leases are not renewed or <br />cannot be renewed because of the extreme drought conditions, the SDC could not operate their <br />wells. This would be an annual loss of approximately 3,500 acre-feet. <br /> <br />Alternative 2: "Purchase a senior water right and use it for augmentation." The SDC could <br />purchase shares of Prewitt Reservoir water for augmentation. Prewitt shares are selling for <br />$15,000 or approximately $1 ,000 per acre-foot. This alternative would cost the SDC well over <br />$1,000,000. <br /> <br />Alternative 3, Construct a series of recharge ponds, one augmentation well, and 2 recharge <br />wells to generate the needed augmentation credits, would use the recharge wells to fill the <br />recharge ponds during the winter months when there is generally not a call on the river. Water <br />from the ponds would return to the river by underground percolation during the summer time <br />while the SDc has depletions that need to be offset with augmentation water. The <br />augmentation well would supply water directly to the river during the most severe drought <br />situation. The cost of this alternative is $135,000, and it is the preferred alternative. <br /> <br />2 <br />