Laserfiche WebLink
The Commonwealth Irrigation Company is a mutual ditch company formed in 1882. The <br />Company is managed by a group of corporate officers and a Board of Directors. The Board of <br />directors meet monthly to review Company operations and provide direction for Officers. <br />Assets of the Company include numerous decreed water rights, the Empire Canal and associated <br />diversion and water delivery facilities. Water rights of the Company are generally used for <br />irrigation, although some water deliveries are made for the benefit to wildlife habitat. <br />Share Ownership <br />There are approximately 202 share owners in the Company. This number may vary from year to <br />year as shares are sold or otherwise exchanged. There are approximately 736 shares outstanding <br />in the Company. <br />Limitations on Share Use <br />Shares in the Company are not "tied" to specific parcels of land, but must be used on lands within <br />the Company service area. The service area is defined as lands historically irrigated with Empire <br />Canal water. This requirements helps to keep water from being moved outside of the ditch <br />service area and reduces the potential for expansion of irrigated acreage. <br />Water Rights of the Company <br />The Company owns 9 different water appropriations on the Rio Grande, Alamosa River and La <br />Jara Creek. Included is a right previously owned by a ditch (Davis Bengle, priority 310-A for <br />6.00 cfs) that was destroyed during construction and subsequently transferred to the Empire <br />Canal. The Company now has an obligation to deliver this "special" water to the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife (the current owner of this right). Special water is delivered only to the <br />CDOW, although the water reverts back to the Company if not used. <br />Appropriations owned by the Company tota1627.00 cfs. Many of these rights, however, are <br />relatively junior in priority to other water rights on the Rio Grande and they are frequently called <br />out. <br />Priority Number Amount Cumulative <br />(cfs) Amount <br />Rio Grande River <br />74 1.80 1.80 <br />211 4.28 6.08 <br />236-A 312.30 318.38 <br />310-A 6.00 324.38 <br />335-A 2.30 326.68 <br />261-A 92.00 418.68 <br />361-B 93.32 512.00 <br />Alamosa River <br />105 85.00 597.00 <br />La Jara Creek <br />106 30.00 627.00 <br />C:Acdss\EMPCanal.doc Commonwealth Irrigation Co. Interview June 23, 1999 -Page 2 of 7 <br />