C150200 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C150200
• Contractor Name: Sheek Ditch Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 34
• County: Montezuma
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Project Description and Alternatives

The Natural Resources Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture (NRCS) has
expanded the Salinity Control Area in Montezuma County to include the Mancos Valley. The
NRCS has approved a Salinity Control Project to place individual irrigation ditches in the
Mancos Valley into pipelines to reduce seepage and the amount of salt that leaches into the
Mancos River. The Project Plan and Environmental Assessment (the Plan) is included in
Appendix C.
The Sheek Ditch is included in the Plan and the Company has made application to NRCS for
the Sheek Ditch Pipeline Project on the basis that the NRCS cost share in the Project will be
75% of the total project cost. Pre-approval has already been given for this project. The benefits
to the members of the Company will include:

1. eliminate water losses and get all of the water home,

2. eliminate cleaning and maintenance of the open ditch,

3. a single large pipeline costs much less than several small pipelines for transport of
water,

4. a 75% cost contribution intended to make the project affordable and spur the water
users to organize, agree and make decisions.

5. make improvements to the river channel to increase the amount of water reaching the
Ditch.

6. provide correct measurement and delivery of water to individual water users.

7. upgrade the distribution system and produce water pressure to enable better and more
cost effective on-farm improvements.

Three alternatives were considered by the Members:

1. The no-action alternative.
2. Individual members construct pipelines to meet their own needs.
3. Participate in the NRCS Salinity Control Project.

Alternative No.1 was considered unacceptable because the Members need to improve the
Ditch. The Ditch is located on a glacial gravel deposit that sits atop a layer of Mancos shale.
Excessive water is being lost to seepage and evaporation. The drought of 2002 illustrated the
how poorly the existing structure performs. Although water was diverted from the river during
the drought, the water was lost to seepage and evaporation and the Members were unable to
raise a hay crop and had no stock water for weeks at a time. The Members also wish to
upgrade their on-farm practices for more efficient use of water.
Alternative No.2 was ruled out because the cost of individual pipeline projects is prohibitive
and a single pipeline without a cost subsidy is beyond the ability of the members to repay.
Alternative No.3 was selected because of the NRCS 75%cost share, the engineering services
provided by NRCS and the timing for the Salinity Control Project meets the Members needs.

The selected alternative, Alternative No.3, will include a new diversion structure;
approximately 18,000 feet of PVC pipeline, varying in size from 21 inch down to 6-inch; metered