C150380 Increase Approval Letter

Home Browse Search

Consolidated Home Supply Ditch and Reservoir Company Consent Agenda Item 2a July 16-17, 2014 Board Meeting(Updated July 18,2014) Page 2 of 4 Background The Company serves approximately 15,000 irrigated acres in Larimer County near Loveland. Its George Rist Ditch is located on the Big Thompson River just downstream of the canyon mouth west of Loveland. During the unprecedented flood of September 2013 in the tributaries to the South Platte River, a significant number of diversion structures and dams along the river corridor were damaged, including the George Rist Ditch. The George Rist Ditch was purchased by the Company in the late 1880's. The ditch serves its shareholders by delivering water to Mariano Reservoir (aka Boedecker Lake). Additionally, the ditch is a carrier ditch for the Buckingham Irrigation Company, delivering its water to Rist Reservoir (aka Buckingham Lake). During the 2013 flood, the diversion dam, headgate, measuring flume, stilling well and house, and access road were heavily damaged. Additionally, two sections of the ditch's embankment and bottom were completely washed out. At these locations additional erosion occurred adjacent to the breached areas outside of the ditch itself. Project Update The emergency repairs identified in the original damage assessment have been completed within the original budget. However, during the emergency repairs and subsequent annual maintenance and start- up of the ditch, additional flood damage was discovered. These additional repairs will require a $70,000 increase to the original $444,000 loan. The additional repairs are briefly described below. The updated Project Cost Summary is shown in Table 1. Dry Creek Structure- $6,700: The Ditch and Dry Creek converge and share the same channel for approximately 350 feet. At this location additional debris and damage to the ditch was discovered. This work has been completed. Flume Replacement- $46,500: After additional field investigations and conversations with the Big Thompson River Water Commissioner, it was determined the existing flume could not be repaired. The existing flume was removed and a long throated flume was constructed. This is an overall improvement to the ditch because the original flume was known to have operation issues even prior to the flooding. Approximately $30,000 of this cost was covered under the original loan request. This work has been completed. All-Weather Access - $26,000: Road base material was installed to repair and restore the ditch rider road from the headgate to the east breach. This is an overall improvement to the ditch because ditch access was very limited at this location prior to the flood. This work has been completed. Bridge Removal - $9,000: As part of the repair operations, an unauthorized bridge crossing the ditch was discovered within the ditch easement. During the flood, debris was caught on this bridge causing water to back up and overtop the ditch bank. The Company received a court order to allow for the removal of the bridge. This work has been completed. Ditch Stabilization at Bridge - $7,500: At the location of the unauthorized bridge, the banks had to be steepened to a near 1:1 slope with buried rip rap. During the first water run in the ditch, there was some movement in the embankment. Additional monitoring will be conducted during the 2014 irrigation season, but the Company believes additional stabilization methods, such as concrete blocks, will be required. This work will be completed this fall after the irrigation season and reservoir run have been completed.