Field Examination Report Proposed Weldona Valley WP Project

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- 5 - b Weldon Ditch Cory any and , r` i C' a Ditch Conpany are operating o atual corporations under Colorado lam. c. The Woldona area has boen a very closely knit eomn :uni•ty for a number of years and has workzd cell together on programs In the past. 3. Excluded freac. It will be noccs: ary that approx nately 36 sections on tho upper and of the project arpa ba petitionod into the district. :Sse ctatament on size and location of the watershed. 9. Interest of Local. People. A portion of the project lies within the newly formed Vorgan SCD. The Board Frosident, Grayson Crook, assures us that ':.hera is a great deal of interest in the new district and does not anticipat© any opposition to tho early 'inclusion of the rest of the watershed area within the rorgan SCD. The district governing body has oxpros;ed their interest in the project by sponsoring the application. The farrier and rancher groups have indicated that they have need for the teahnical assistanca available and that there are considerable banofits to be derived from the Soil.Conservation District Program. Also, their participation in a watershed protection project will benefit the Burr oundine farm and urban areas, particularly those who depend upon the continual usa of water by diversion from the South Platte Uver Exam Orchard to Fort Morgan, Colorado. Hanicipal, county, and State highway groups are interested in the control of water cro3s- ing and being diverted along the highwgyo mind roads in the area that would overload the existing facilities for handling flood run -off. At the pr©sont time.there is no watershed association within the project boundary. however, there Is one drainage district that is definitely interested in the program. Tho local newspapers and radio stations have helped in the regular SOD program and would certainly help in the Watershed Protection Progran. There has been no indication• of opposition from spay Individual or group. 10. 1-goal Participation. All of the SCD board members and officials of the two ditch com- panies indicate that considerable funds can be raised by raising the ditch assessment of tho ditch participants together with contributions from individual farmers and ranchers who have been particularly damaged by the definite Flows fram certain watersheds and have indicatod that they would contribute both easomente and rights-- of -tny and actual cash towards the reduction of these damagaa. The present ditch assossm,ts on both the Riverside and Weldon ditches are less than 01.50 per acre and could be raised somewhat without too much oppo sitlon.