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crees are in priority. In recent years, NCLPIC has also initiated a well augmentation plan for more than 100 member wells within the company's historic service area. In 2003, the company commissioned an initial demonstration of SCADA for monitoring with one of the key rated sections on the Greeley #2 system. This demonstration showed clearly that real time data could be effectively used, and that improved monitoring was a significant help in managing day -to -day operations as well as annual reporting of flows. After considerable study, including tours of CAIDD, the Dolores Project near Cortez, and Imperial Irrigation District in California, the com- pany elected to implement SCADA for further monitoring of flows as well as gate actuation at key checks and outlet gates. Rubicon gates were selected because of suitable flow measurement accuracy that is possible along with gate actua- tion. One existing radial gate was actuated with a Limitorque actuator. A UHF radio frequency was licensed to the company and the communications for the entire system are facilitated using a repeat- er on a water tower near the company's offices near Lucerne, Colorado. Because Rubicon gates were selected, the Rubi- con TCC (Total Channel Control) HMI was eval- uated and ultimately selected for implementation. The system currently consists of five Rubicon gates, one actuated radial gate, and monitoring of one rated section. A key gate outlet used to waste excess water in storm events allows for continu- ous monitoring of canal water surface elevations. Storm flows can be dumped to avoid increased liability and risk of a canal breach. In 2006, the company is adding Rubicon gates at the outlet of Kern Reservoir near Windsor and is actuating the existing river diversion on the Cache la Poudre River. Riverside Riverside Irrigation District located in Fort Mor- gan, Colorado operates a canal that is more than 100 miles in length. The company delivers water to well recharge structures which must be moni- tored to meet the required reporting demands for flows and volumes associated with recharge. Automata RTU equipment, specifically the Au- tomata Minisat, was used and linked to satellites. Data is accessed through an internet web page. Although there is an annual recurring cost for satellite communication, this approach allows a very low SCADA entry cost and minimal capital investment to meet the requirements of the site without having to travel to individual recharge sites for data collection. Currently six sites are in operation. Riverside Irrigation District has in- vested approximately $18,000 to date since early 2004 and expects to gradually expand the system as may be warranted and afforded. Affordable implementation Table 1 contrasts SCADA implementation costs at varying levels and compares those costs to collection of flow data using a Stevens recorder device, as might have been most common in the past. So, for example, if it were necessary to replace an existing Stevens recorder at a flume or weir at $2,450 (second column), the existing equipment might be replaced with an RTU using satellite communication at a cost of approximate- ly $3,000 plus annual costs of $435 (third col- umn). This incremental additional cost is likely quite palatable given the ease of data collection. Additionally, assuming a central computer is al- ready in place, the cost of real time assess to the additional site would be approximately $3,000 as well (fourth column). If the added features and sophistication of alarm condition reporting is de- sirable, then this cost increases to approximately $4,000 (fifth column). SCADA has become more affordable in recent years and is quite useful to mutual irrigation companies for monitoring, remote manual opera- tions, or even for full canal automation in the