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The Water Supply & Storage Company January 20, 2009 (UPDATED JANUARY 28) Page 2 of 6 Background Agenda Item l lb The Company annually collects, diverts and delivers about 55,500 AF of water primarily from direct flow rights in the Cache la Poudre River and two trans-mountain diversions. The Larimer County Ditch distributes to shareholders water from its headgate on the Cache la Poudre River. The Company is about 35% agricultural and 65% municipal and delivers water between mid May through the first week of September. The Company presently uses all the water it diverts for agricultural purposes. The municipal owners lease their water to farmers in the area. Grand River Ditch Pipe Project The Ditch Project site is located in Rocky Mountain National Park, about two miles from the Continental Divide at La Poudre Pass. The project includes installing a conduit at a sharp bend in the Ditch commonly known as "Windy Point". The Ditch is in an 1891 Act easement and has been in operation since 1890. It is located at elevation 10,200 feet in the Never Summer Range in the Kawuneeche Valley, north of Lulu City and the Colorado River Trailhead. The Ditch is a collection facility for water diverted over the Continental Divide into La Poudre Pass Creek. The water diverted by the Grand River Ditch is an important source of water for the irrigation of about 40,000 acres of farmland. The Grand River Ditch provides about 18,000 AF annually. On May 29, 2003, the Grand River Ditch breached at Windy Point due to an avalanche. The Company shut down the ditch and installed temporary pipes through the breach area. It has been the Company's intention since 2003 to formally repair the breached area and return the Ditch to its decreed capacity. The Project was delayed pending the final settlement of the National Park Service's claim against the Company for damages caused by the breach. The $9 million settlement was executed in May 2008. The Company is responsible for $4 million after insurance covered $5 million. Kluwer Reservoir Outlet Project The Outlet Project is the repair of the Travis Road crossing of the inlet/outlet canal between Kluwer Reservoir and Reservoir #4 in Larimer County. The reservoirs are filled by a common ditch which serves as the inlet for Reservoir #4 as well as an inlet and outlet for Kluwer Reservoir. Travis Road crosses the canal and provides the only access to homes along the north and east shore of Kluwer Reservoir. The road embankment has concrete retaining walls that have failed or are about to fail, and the road surface has partially collapsed. The Company and the County will jointly fund a project to reconstruct Travis Road and the water control facilities in the Project area. The cost will be split approximately 50/50 between the entities. Loan Feasibility Study The Loan Feasibility Study, titled "Feasibility of Rehabilitation of Grand River Ditch at Windy Point Pipe Project & Kluwer Reservoir Outlet/Travis Road Embankment", dated December 2008, was prepared by Dennis Harmon, General Manager. The study includes engineering design and estimates prepared by John Andrew, PhD, P.E. and Larimer County Road and Bridge. The study was prepared in accordance with the CWCB guidelines.