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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 Chilcott Ditch Cc)mpany Diversion Structure Project Introduction (Need for the Project) The Chilcott Ditch Company (CDC), located in EI Paso County, operates the Chilcott Ditch for the benefit of the shareholders by providing direct flow irrigation water. The ditch diverts from Fountain creek, just north of the Town of Fountain, and water deliveries are made throu!~h the Company's ditch to the 2000-acre service area. The CDC diversion was destroyed by a flood in April and May 1999. The structure was breached and about 300 feet of the right abutment was washed away. The CDC wants to rebuild the diversion prior to the 2000 irrigation season. Project Sponsor The CDC is a mutual ditch company and a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Colorado. There are 16 shareholders and 105 shares of stock. The CDC 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. The CDC articles of incorporation and by-laws are included in Appendix A. Project Service Area and Facilities The CDC provides irrigation water to a 2000-acre service area in EI Paso County. The heading for the Chilcott Ditch is located north of the Town of Fountain, on Fountain Creek, and extends southeast approximately 12 miles. Irrigated acreage within the service area is primarily used for cattle ranching and to grow hay. Hay crop is used as cattle feed, or is sold. A Illap of the Chilcott Ditch and photos of the existing diversion are shown on page 7. A map of the service area is in the back pocket of this report. Hydrology and Water Rights The source of water for the Company is direct flow water rights out of Fountain Creek. The water rights diverted at the CDC headgate consist of 9 rights with dates of appropriation ranging from 1863 to 1905 and totaling 104 cfs. The CDC owns 3 of these rights totaling 78.58 cfs. Records of the State Engineer's Office indicate that total average annual diversions are 7,425 acre-feet, based on record years 1991 through 1997, and that the maximum diversion rate was 49.5 cfs for record years 1996, 1997, and 1998. A summary of water rights and the State Engineer Diversion records for 1996,1997, and 1998 are found in Appendix C. Chilcott Ditch Company Diversion Structure Feasibility Study November 1999 Page 6 of 12