C150268 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C150268
• Contractor Name: Louden Irrigating Canal and Reservoir Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 4
• County: Larimer
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

Rist-Benson Reservoir is located below the Louden Canal and because of this the reservoir is
operated by the LICRC as an exchange reservoir. During the irrigation season LICRC receives a 1: 1
exchange ratio on the water delivered from the reservoir. During the storage season LICRC
negotiates the exchange ratio on the water delivered from the reservoir, historically this exchange
ratio is 2: 1 due to potential losses of water during the storage season.

Rist-Benson Reservoir is surrounded by a subdivision that has interest in maintaining the reservoir at
a level conducive to recreation, between GR 10 and 11. Because of the interest the subdivision has
in maintaining between OR 10 and 11, LICRC has an agreement with the home owners association
that LICRC will maintain the water at that level provided the home owner's associate supplies
LICRC with 450 acre-ft of water each year. As part of the agreement the water provided by the
home owner's association must come from outside of the LICRC system. The water obtained by the
home owner's association is rented from outside of the LICRC system and delivered to LICRC.

The Rist- Benson Reservoir Company has 200 shares of which 81 percent are owned by LICRC, each
share of the reservoir company is allotted 2 acre-ft. As part of an agreement between LICRC and the
outstanding stock holders of the Rist-Benson Reservoir Company LICRC is responsible for the
maintenance and repairs of the Rist-Benson Reservoir and Dam and the outstanding stock holders are
only assessed for the liability insurance for the dam and other non maintenance items. Because of
the existing agreement between LICRC and the outstanding stock holders LICRC will be required to
raise the funds for the dam repair.

WATER RIGHTS

The LICRC owns the following decrees diverting water out ofthe Big Thompson River just below
the Weldon section 12, township 5 North, Range 70 West or south of the present Thompson School
through the Louden Ditch. The water conducted by the Louden Ditch is intended to be applied to
milling, manufacturing, irrigating of land and for domestic purposes.

a) The Louden Ditch, 7 c.f.s., appropriation date of November 10, 1861, Big Thompson
River Direct Flow Priority No.1;

b) The Louden Ditch, 40 c.f.s., appropriation date of October 1, 1871, Big Thompson
River Direct Flow Priority No. 18;

c) The Louden Ditch, 123 c.f.s., appropriation date of November 1, 1877, Big Thompson
River Direct Flow Priority No. 38;

d) Donath Reservoir, 1148 acre-ft, February 24, 1883, Big Thompson River Storage
Priority No.2;

e) Rist-Benson Reservoir, 373.8 acre-ft, April 26, 1903, Big Thompson River Storage
Priority No. 38;

Rist-Benson Feasibility Study

Page 3