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<br />Orcnard:Mesa Irrigation <District <br /> <br /> <br />668 38 Road <br />Palisadc, CO 81526 <br /> <br />970-464-7885 <br />FAX 970-464-59"...8 <br /> <br />February 1, 2005 <br /> <br />Mike Serlet, P .E. <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />Re: Grant Request <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Serlet: <br /> <br />The Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (OMID,) located in Palisade, Colorado, <br />serves irrigation water to over 9,400 acres ofIand on East Orchard Mesa and Orchard <br />Mesa in the Grand Valley. Our point of diversion is the Government Highline Canal <br />Roller Dam in Debeque Canyon on the Colorado River. Water is diverted by the Grand <br />Valley Water Users Association (GVWUA) at the roller darn, brought three miles down <br />the canyon through tunnels constructed as a part of the Grand Valley Project over 100 <br />years ago, and divided between the OMID and GVWUA at a location known as the <br />entrance to tunnel #3. The water then crosses under the Colorado River and Interstate 70 <br />in a siphon owned and operated by the OMID to what is referred. to as the "power canal." <br /> <br />There are several issues facing us at this time in delivering the water through the <br />power canal: <br /> <br />1) The age of the canal and the need for rehabilitation of parts of the wall on <br />the west side of the canal that traverses the canyon above the interstate. <br />There are several locations that are deteriorating and need attention. <br /> <br />2) In the winter when ice forms, there have been occasions when the water <br />has overtopped the canal and flooded the interstate, creating a hazard to <br />motorists. Because of this problem, we carmot divert our full water right <br />for power generation in the wintertime. <br /> <br />3) There is a siphon located at Stokes Gulch that has deteriorated quite badly <br />over the years and is in need of replacement. The danger of this siphon <br />failing is, in my estimation, tantamount to an emergency situation. Should <br />it fail, damage to adjacent lands and homes would be substantial. <br /> <br />Enclosed please find a proposal from Water Management Consultants in Denver, <br />Colorado, with a cost estimate for a feasibility study to be conducted that would evaluate <br />the structural and hydraulic integrity of the power canal, address the need for an <br /> <br />O:\UD@lIhinCl,Clllll <br /> <br />1 . cl <br /> <br />BZSSvSv-Ol.S <br /> <br />Z-3d <br /> <br />dBI:EO SO vi ~ew <br />