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Final Report <br />New Pioneer Ditch Diversion Reconstruction Project <br />Newell Geer, Silver Spur Land & Cattle <br /> <br />November 6, 2008 <br /> <br />The reconstruction of the New Pioneer Ditch diversion structure was completed on November 5, 2008. The <br />purpose of the reconstruction was to build a diversion structure capable of delivering the necessary water for <br />agriculture in the ditch service area which irrigates up to 950 acres of native grasses for high quality, high <br />protein fine stemmed hay. It was also designed to provide multiple benefits including the rehabilitation of the <br />natural morphological characteristics of the river channel damaged by extreme erosion and the construction <br />of a structure that will provide upstream migration of native fish populations. <br /> <br />The new structure achieved all of its objectives. The river can be completely diverted to meet Colorado water <br />law in the event of a call or it can turn back as much water into the river as desired. The new concrete <br />headgate is limited to the full 50 cfs decree with a low-head rectangular orifice and a slide gate to regulate <br />the flow. <br /> <br />The low flow channel has been constructed to allow fish passage with a series of step-pools that spreads the <br />four foot vertical drop over two hundred linear feet. Pools are approximately twenty feet long and steps and <br />approximately twelve inches high. A small six inch fish was observed negotiating the structure. <br /> <br />The previously eroded streambanks were filled back to their natural dimensions and stabilized with rock and <br />native willows. The new channel makes a couple of high radius; low sinuosity meanders to mimic the natural <br />channel. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> After Construction Before Construction <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 1 <br />