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connected to a well after February 1, 1998; direct connect operations in place prior to this date <br />are not assessed the 35 percent. <br />1) Empire Intake Canal (Structure ID 0100501) <br />The Empire Intake Canal headgate is located on the south side of the South Platte River and is <br />the only inlet to the reservoir. The unlined canal travels in a southeastern direction paralleling <br />the South Platte River and terminates at the reservoir. The canal intercepts Lower Latham Ditch <br />and Box Elder Creek and returns the flow from these channels to the South Platte River via a <br />wasteway located downstream of Box Elder Creek. The canal intercepts Lost Creek downstream <br />of the wasteway. The concrete diversion structure typically sweeps the river with twenty-six 12' <br />bays (312' total length) and returns the portion of the river not diverted for storage via a <br />wasteway near the diversion structure. <br />Length: Approximately 21 miles <br />Capacity: The capacity of Empire Intake Canal is 612 cfs. <br />Measurement Device: Diversion measurements on Empire Intake Canal are made using a weir <br />and staff gage located downstream of the wasteway and approximately one-half mile <br />downstream of the diversion. Measurements of diversions into storage are made using a <br />measuring device equipped with a clock recorder located just upstream of the reservoir. <br />The Water Commissioner is responsible for collecting the records from both of the <br />measurement devices on the canal. <br />Conveyance Efficiency: Reported seepage on the intake canal averages 35 percent, although no <br />studies have been performed on the conveyance losses. Due to the location of two <br />measuring devices located on the upstream and downstream ends of the canal, seepage <br />loss estimates may be calculated. <br />Return Flow Locations: Seepage losses from the upper portion of the intake canal accrue to the <br />South Platte River. Seepage losses from the remaining portion of the intake canal accrue <br />to Bijou Canal and also benefit wells in the Putnam Ditch Company and Corona Ranch <br />service areas. <br />HydroBase Data: Total historic diversions under the Empire Ditch structure average 46,000 <br />acre-feet per year. Diversion records are reported to the Water Commissioner in Water <br />District 1. Diversion records are generally available in Hydrobase from the late 1960's <br />through 2003. <br />2) Empire Reservoir (Structure ID 0103816) <br />Empire Reservoir is an off-channel storage facility located in Water District 1 approximately 23 <br />miles downstream from the Water District boundary. Empire Reservoir is situated southwest of <br />the Town of Orchard on the south side of the South Platte River. The reservoir was completed in <br />1909 and is used for irrigation and recreation. <br />Bijou Irrigation System 6 of 13 <br />