PROJ02004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Water Ri~ Some perceived and real water right issues apply to water that was historically used for agricultural irrigation and is proposed for landscape irrigation. Most often a mutual irrigation company's decree is worded such that the water right is associated with "irrigation" and irrigation is irrigation, whether used for agricultural crops or landscapes. Some urban projects are built on land that may not have been irrigated or that was only partially irrigated previously. Bringing new ground under irrigation can be an issue and, in all likelihood a Colorado Water Court issue, which can result in a lengthy and costly legal process. A water court action of this type almost always results in a reduction of, or a court-imposed limitation on the water right in question. It is also possible that concerns related to historic irrigation can be resolved with a suitable mix of water holdings. A review of the water rights under the Highland Ditch system was performed with the presumption that there will not be a change in use or a change in place of use because a pressurization of the system will provide for continued irrigation within the Highland Ditch service area. Shareholders under the Highland Ditch system own a variety of both direct flow water rights and storage water rights. These water rights are used in varying combinations to provide for early season and late season crop water requirements. As urbanization occurs, it is presumed that all Colorado Big-Thompson (C-BT) units will gradually but eventually be turned over to potable water purveyors. Therefore, this water source is not considered under a future built out urbanization scenario. The Highland Ditch Company holds a direct flow water right from the St. Vrain Creek that normally furnishes a good supply of early season water from May 15 to July 4. There are 700 shares outstanding in The Highland Ditch Company and 25.5 "non-voting" shares. Direct flow rights are summarized in Table 1. Table 1. Hi hland Ditch Direct Flow Ri Priority Number 46 60 31 N.S. hts Summa Direct Flow Right CFS 205.46 23.57 95.00 Appropriation Date November 30, 1871 June 1, 1878 Se tember 20, 1902 The total direct flow right from all three decrees is 324.03 CFS. Historic annual diversions from 1950 to 2001 are shown in Figure 2. The historic annual yield is 18 acre-feet per share for direct flow, so with 725.5 shares outstanding, approximately 13,059 acre-feet of water is available to meet early season needs. Aqua Engineering, Inc. November 8, 2004 Canal Modernization Feasibility Study - 6-