Gunnison - Paonia Feldman Diversion Reconstruction Project ‎(Part 2 - Construction)‎_Application

• Basin Roundtable: Gunnison
• Applicant: North Fork River Improvement Association
• Description: Paonia-Feldman Diversion Reconstruction Project ‎(Part 2 - Construction)‎
• Account Source: Statewide
• Board Meeting Date: 9/19/2007
• Contract/PO #: 150411
• WSRA - Doc Type: Grant Application

Water Supply Reserve Account – Grant Application Form
Form Revised O ctober 2006
_______________________________________

3.
Please provide an overview of water pro ject or activity to be funded including – type of activity, statement of what the

activity is intended to accomplish, the need for the activity, the problems and opportunities to be addressed,

expectations of the participants, why the activity is important , the service area or geographic location, and any
relevant issues etc. Please include any relevant Tabor issues. Please refer to Part 2 of criteria and guidance

document for additional detail on information to include. Attach additional sheets as needed .

Background:
Purpose . The project is being split into two parts; this application covers the second part of the

project and includes actual construction of the project. Funding for the planning and mobilization

phase is sought in a separate application.

The completed project (Parts 1 and 2) i s designed to create an efficient, low - main tenance

permanent concrete head gate for two ditch es and low - head rock weir at the diversion point of

the ditches. This will deliver a full decree into the existing ditch supply systems while conserving
water, improving use efficiencies, reducing the need for bulldozers in the channel, and decreasing

suspended sediment. In addition, this will provide for fish migration and allow boaters to travel

across the diversion; both of which are now prevented by the existing diversion structure. These

objectives are also consistent with watershed management goals and needs assessments of the

North Fork Water Conservancy District, the North Fork Gunnison Action Strategy (2000), and

the Statewide Water Supply Initiative Findings and Key Recommendations
.

T he Paonia and Feldman ditch diversions are located on the North Fork of the Gunnison River,

adjacent to the Town of Paonia. The Feldman Ditch is situated on the western side of the river;
the Paonia Ditch is situated on the eastern side. See attached maps. The diversion s currently use a

rock , gravel and debris structure created by bulldozing the river bed to divert water into the

ditches. The Paonia Ditch does not have a control structure at the diversion point , but uses a

metal culvert as the intake structure. When the irrigation season ends, poles are placed across the
mouth of the culvert to stop flow into the ditch. The Feldman Ditch has no head gate; an

unmeasured amount of water is diverted into the ditch and that in excess of their decree is

dumped back to the rive r downstream of the diversion point. At the end of the irrigation season,
the ditch is closed off by dumping soil into the mouth of the ditch

The total decree for the Paonia Ditch is 34.54 cfs. The Paonia Ditch also carries water for the

Wade and Hightowe r Ditches. The Paonia Ditch water serves 700 acres of agricultural lands. The
bulk of this water irrigates fruit orchards, hay meadows and vineyards. The Town of Paonia holds

3.9 percent of the Paonia Ditch shares. This water is used to irrigate lawns and gardens within the

town. Delta County owns several shares; this water is used to irrigate the ball fields at Volunteer
Park, a County - owned recreation area near Paonia. The Feldman ditch decree is for 3.8 cfs and

provides water for 76 acres of orchards and hay fields. Some gardens and yards are also irrigated

from the Feldman ditch. Decree dates and details are provided in Part B 7.

(Continued on following pages)

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