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Weldon Valley Ditch Company Agenda Item 26c November 10, 2008 Page 2 of 4 Background The Company provides irrigation wa ter to approximately 6,400 acres of agricultural land in Morgan County. The service area extends from two miles west of Orchar d to about three miles east of Weldona on the north side of the South Platte Ri ver. The Company’s major facilities include a bladder dam diversion at the South Platte River, a flume crossing at the Jackson Lake outlet, a flume crossing at the Cottonwood Draw, and a retu rn flume at the terminus of the ditch. The Cottonwood Draw Flume is the subject of this lo an request. This flume is a wooden structure supporting a welded steel pipe that is approximately ei ght feet wide and 300 fe et long. It was built in 1965 after the original structure was destroye d by a flood. In 1991, a synthetic liner was added to the channel to prevent corrosion of the metal. This did extend the life of the flume; however, excessive wear and tear on the liner caused th e Company to remove the liner in 2007. The wood supports and foundations are now failing and are disrupting the flow in the channel. The flume spans a natural drainage area and is ther efore threatened by large floods. The water table in the area has also been increasing and has, at times, submerged the bottom of the support pillars for several months. Loan Feasibility Study Brent Nation, P.E., Nation Engineering Services, LLC, prepared the Loan Feasibility Study titled “ Feasibility of the Rehabilitation of the Wel don Valley Ditch Company Cottonwood Draw Flume, September 2008 .” The study was prepared in accordance with the CWCB guidelines and includes preliminary engineering desi gn and cost estimates. Weldon Valley Ditch Company The Company is a Colorado mutual ditch company and non-profit corporation. It was established in 1888 to construct and operate the We ldon Valley Ditch for the benefit of its shareholders. There are 640 shares held by 65 shareholders. The Compa ny is controlled by a five-member Board of Directors. The Board has the ability to levy assess ments and take on debt as they deem necessary. The Board also has the ability to se ll the stock of deli nquent stockholders. Water Rights The Company has the right to divert 165 cfs from the South Platte Rive r under irrigation rights decreed November 21, 1895 with an appropriati on date of October 26, 1881. The Company’s average diversions are ap proximately 36,000 AF annually. Project Description A range of alternatives to address the failing flume were cons idered: 1) Take no action; 2) Complete remedial repairs on the existing flum e; and 3) Replace the flume with a siphon.