C150311 approval ltr - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Grand River Ditch Company July 9, 2010 (Updated July 30, 2010) Page 2 of 5 Background Agenda Item 8b The Company annually collects, diverts and delivers 50 cfs or about 14,500 AF of water from direct flow rights in the Colorado River (River). The Ditch distributes water to Company shareholders in an area between New Castle and Rifle. The Ditch is located north of the River and within the I-70 and Colorado River corridor in central Garfield County. During the spring of 2009, a portion of the Ditch was severally damaged during high River flows. The Company desires to install a pipeline to permanently fix this section of the Ditch. During the spring of 2010, approximately 60 feet of a retaining wall that protects the Ditch from the River collapsed due to an extended high-water season. This particular section of the Ditch has about '/4 mile of various types of riprap material that was installed nearly 100 years old. The River will likely continue to encroach on the Ditch and cause it to fail again. The pipeline will also prevent ditch seepage and saturation of the bank between the Ditch and the River. Loan Feasibility Study The Loan Feasibility Study, titled "Feasibility of Piping a Section of the Grand River Ditch" dated May 2010, was prepared by Dennis Davidson, Bookcliff Conservation District. The study includes preliminary engineering design and construction cost estimates prepared by Mike Kishimoto. The study was prepared in accordance with the CWCB guidelines. Borrower - Grand River Ditch Company The Grand River Ditch Company is a non-profit Colorado mutual ditch company, founded in 1917 and has 270 shares and 148 shaxeholders. The Company has an elected Board of Directors that manage the day-to-day business and operation of the Ditch. The Company is made up of 29% agricultural, 13% commercial and 58% middle income municipal type shareholders. The Company's bylaws indicate the Board of Directors may enter into a loan contract with CWCB and has the power to sell stock for non-payment of annual assessments. The Company's annual meeting is held in the January. Water Rights Grand River Ditch is also known as the Cactus Valley Ditch or Lower Cactus Valley Ditch. Water for the Ditch is supplied by a direct diversion from the Colorado River delivered through an open ditch. The Company's water rights are dated 1889 for 50 cfs, Ditch Number 82-A Priority No. 142- B in Water District 39. The Ditch is approximately 14 miles long. It starts about 3 miles west of New Castle, Colorado, on the north side of the Colorado River and ends about a mile east of Rifle, Colorado. The Ditch typically runs between May l and October l The water is primarily used for pasture irrigation and outside watering of 5 to 10 acre residences. A small portion of the rights are used for augmentation.