C150172 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C150172
• Contractor Name: Union Ditch Company, The
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 2
• County: Weld
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Social and Physical Impacts

The project will have little negative social impacts, since it will provide augmentation water to
those water users that require ground water to fulfill their agricultural needs. In addition to
benefiting well owners, the recharge project has the potential to benefit the Company as a
whole through the generation of additional augmentation credits. It is possible that the Union
Ditch can provide excess credits for lease to other entities in the South Platte River basin. The
project will also be a benefit to the landowners, on whose land the structures are to be built,
because the structures will serve as an improvement to the property value in the long-term
especially if it is considered for development. The project has no conceived negative physical
impacts, once construction is complete. It is very likely that the recharge pond will serve as type
of wetland attracting wildlife to the area, which is an added benefit for the community as a
whole.

Conclusions

1. The Union Ditch Company is an incorporated entity in the State of Colorado with the ability
to enter into a contract with the CWCB for the purpose of obtaining a Construction Fund
loan.

2. Easement agreements are well underway for the construction of this project.

3. The project would provide augmentation water for well owners in the Union Ditch
augmentation plan as well as an asset to the all shareholders in the Union Ditch Company.

4. The total estimated cost of the project is between $261,100 and $343,725, which would be
financed by in-house financing (10%) and the CWCB (90%).

5. The project is technically and financially feasible.

References

Hurr, R.T., P.A. Schneider, and others. 1972. USGS Hydrogeologic Characteristics of
the Valley Fill Aquifers in Reaches of the South Platte River Valley, Colorado.
USGS Open-File Report-6 Volumes.

Peel, M. 2003. Design of Site Specific Percolation Test and Analysis of a Future
Reservoir Design. Senior Design Project Final Report, Bioresource and
Agriculture Engineering, Colorado State University.

United States Department of Agriculture. 1980. Soil Survey of Weld County, Colorado,
Southern Part. Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Colorado
Agricultural Experiment Station.

Union Ditch Company
Recharge Project Feasibility Study
March 2004

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