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Empire Reservoir is an off-stream reservoir constructed in 1905. Water is diverted from the South Platte River through the Empire Intake Ditch. The dam is a Class 1 Dam with a height of 35 feet and a crest width of 16 feet. There are essentially four separate dam embankments that impound water, with lengths as follows Outlet Dam 2300 feet NW Dam 1900 feet McIntyre Dam 4100 feet East Dam 12,500 feet The District has a right to store 37,709 acre-feet, but the maximum storage is 36,142 acre-feet at GH 30.0. The reservoir was restricted by the State Engineer's Office (SEO) from 1985 to 2007 because of safety concerns due to the lack of an emergency spillway. With help through a CWCB loan, a spillway was constructed and the reservoir was allowed to fill to its full 30.0 GH. In the fall of 2007, the reservoir was re-restricted to GH 29.0 by the SEO, again due to safety concerns. These concerns were a result of significant wave erosion along a section of the East Dam in which sections of the existing parapet wall failed and significant erosion occurred near existing cottonwood trees along the upstream toe of the embankment. Following the 2007 fill restriction, the District hired Applegate Group, Inc. to prepare construction plans for the rehabilitation of the East Dam. The construction plans were approved by the SEO in December 2007. The intent of the proposed project is to provide slope protection to the East Dam and to return the normal high water level to GH 30.0. The project will consist of repairing the embankment, adding additional slope protection, and removing several large trees in the embankment. The proposed one-foot increase in storage height would result in 2,682 acre-feet of recovered storage. Feasibility Studies The Loan Feasibility Study was prepared by Tara Schutter, PE, Applegate Group Inc. The study was prepared in accordance with the CWCB guidelines and includes an alternative analysis, engineering design and cost estimates. District financial information was provided by Denice Wagner, secretary of the District. Bijou Irrigation District The District was formed in 1905 by resolution of the Morgan County Commissioners and operates as an Irrigation District under the Irrigation District Law of 1905 (C.R.S. 37-41-101 to 160), including amendments in C.R.S. 37-43-101 to 211. The District office is located in Fort Morgan. The Morgan County Treasurer serves as the ex officio District Treasurer and collects and distributes taxes and assessments, in the same manner as property taxes are collected. Money is distributed to the District on a monthly basis. Affairs of the District are governed by a 5-member Board of Directors, serving 3-year terms, and a Secretary that is appointed. Three Directors are from geographic divisions, and tvvo serve at-large.