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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Feasibility Study Union Ditch Company Recharge Project Introduction and Purpose The Union Ditch Company (Union), located in Weld County, operates the Union Ditch for the benefit of the shareholders by providing direct flow irrigation water to a service area approximately equal to 5,500-acres. Water is diverted from the South Platte River southeast of the City of Greeley and is delivered to farms which produce primarily corn for grain, beets, pasture hay, and vegetables. In addition to the direct flow right for irrigation, many shareholders also use tributary ground water to supplement crop needs during the early growing season, during peak periods of water demand, and during dry years. The Union Ditch Company submitted an application for the approval of an augmentation plan (Case No. 03 CW 404) in December 2003. According to Colorado State Law, out of priority depletions caused by tributary ground water withdrawal through wells must be augmented to the river in the appropriate quantity, time, and location so as to not negatively impact more senior water rights. Union's augmentation application indicates the intent to develop various recharge structures within the Union Ditch service area to replace or augment ground water depletions as a part of a permanent augmentation plan. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of developing a recharge project for the Union Ditch Company. Recharge projects are currently being developed by irrigation enterprises in the South Platte River basin for these purposes and are a manageable way of providing replacement water to the river for ground water depletions caused by tributary wells. Project Sponsor The Union Ditch Company is a mutual ditch company and a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Colorado. There are a total of 250 shares of stock in the Union Ditch Company. Union has the power to set annual assessments to be paid by the shareholders, the power to cut off water deliveries to shareholders that fail to pay their assessments, and the power to offer stock for sale to pay back assessments. Union's articles of incorporation and by-laws were included in the loan application to the CWCB. Project Service Area Figure 1 is a general location map of the Union Ditch which includes the service area boundary, well locations, and potential recharge locations. The irrigated area within the Union Ditch and the South Branch (a lateral that is a part of the Union Ditch) occurs almost exclusively in the lower half of the ditch. There are a total of 40 wells included in the Union Ditch augmentation application, 32 of which are serve farms that make use of Union Ditch water and eight of which serve farms that do not use Union Ditch water but are near the ditch. Ten potential locations for recharge structures have been identified by the Union Ditch. In addition, reaches of the canal can be used and will likely be used as recharge structures. Union Ditch Company Recharge Project Feasibility Study March 2004 Page 6