C150278 Approval letter - Laserfiche WebLink

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Weldon Valley Ditch Company Updated November 20, 2008 Page 2 of 4 Background Agenda Item 26c The Company provides irrigation water to approximately 6,400 acres of agricultural land in Morgan County. The service area extends from two miles west of Orchazd to about three miles east of Weldona on the north side of the South Platte River. 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 return flume at the terminus of the ditch. The Cottonwood Draw Flume is the subject of this loan request. This flume is a wooden structure supporting a welded steel pipe that is approximately eight feet wide and 300 feet long. It was built in 1965 after the original structure was destroyed 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 weaz and tear on the liner caused the Company to remove the liner in 2007. The wood supports and foundations aze now failing and are disrupting the flow in the channel. The flume spans a natural drainage area and is therefore threatened by large floods. The water table in the area has also been increasing and has, at times, submerged the bottom of the support pillazs for several months. Loan Feasibility Study Brent Nation, P.E., Nation Engineering Services, LLC, prepazed the Loan Feasibility Study titled "Feasibility of the Rehabilitation of the Weldon Valley Ditch Company Cottonwood Draw Flume, September 2008." The study was prepazed in accordance with the CWCB guidelines and includes preliminary engineering design 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 Weldon Valley Ditch for the benefit of its shareholders. There are 640 shazes held by 65 shareholders. The Company is controlled by afive-member Boazd of Directors. The Board has the ability to levy assessments and take on debt as they deem necessary. The Board also has the ability to sell the stock of delinquent stockholders. Water Rights The Company has the right to divert 165 cfs from the South Platte River under irrigation rights decreed November 21, 1895 with an appropriation date of October 26, 1881. The Company's average diversions are approximately 36,000 AF annually. Project Description A range of alternatives to address the failing flume were considered: 1) Take no action; 2) Complete remedial repairs on the existing flume; and 3) Replace the flume with a siphon.