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Supply Irrigating Ditch Company Agenda Item 27b <br /> November 19-20,2014 Board Meeting(Updated November 21, 2014) <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br /> Background <br /> The Supply Irrigating Ditch Company (Company) operates the Supply Ditch for the benefit of its <br /> shareholders by providing irrigation water through an existing diversion and ditch system off the St. <br /> Vrain Creek in Lyons. Approximately 2,500 acres are irrigated by the Company's 172 shareholders. <br /> During the unprecedented flood of September 2013 in the tributaries of the South Platte River, a <br /> significant number of diversion structures and dams along the river corridor were damaged including <br /> the Company's ditch system. Prior to the flood, the Company diverted water with a concrete dam <br /> stretching across the river. This directed the river into a channel where the Company's headgate <br /> structure is located. The flood event scoured the diversion dam, eventually causing it to collapse, <br /> leaving only a small portion of the original structure intact. The headgate and its structure, located <br /> off-river, were not structurally damaged by the flood though significant sedimentation occurred <br /> downstream in the channel, eventually blocking the twin box culvert under the highway. At a tunnel <br /> farther down the ditch, flood debris accumulated at the trash rack causing the ditch to back up and <br /> overflow its south bank. <br /> The Company was able to perform an initial ditch cleaning and build a temporary boulder dam in order <br /> to divert water during the 2014 irrigation season. The Company worked with FEMA to develop a Project <br /> Worksheet to cover permanent repairs to its ditch system. <br /> Loan Feasibility Study <br /> Dan Grant, Secretary and Treasurer of the Supply Irrigating Ditch Company, with assistance from Mark <br /> McLean, P.E., with Deere and Ault Consultants, prepared the Loan Feasibility Study, titled "Emergency <br /> Loan Application and Feasibility Study," dated September 17, 2014. The study includes an alternative <br /> analysis and construction cost, and relied on a Scope of Work analysis by Deere and Ault dated <br /> December 20, 2013. The feasibility study was prepared in accordance with the CWCB guidelines. <br /> Borrower- Supply Irrigating Ditch Company <br /> The Company is a mutual ditch company and was incorporated in 1909. The Company's office is located <br /> in Longmont. It operates as a nonprofit corporation and is in good standing with the Colorado Secretary <br /> of State. The Company has issued 400 shares of stock, owned by 172 shareholders. The Company's <br /> revenues are primarily derived from assessments charged on shares of stock owned by the stockholders, <br /> and income derived from fish and recreation leases. <br /> The Company's Articles of Incorporation require the shareholders to approve incurring debt over <br /> $250,000. A special shareholders meeting will be held this November or December. The Articles of <br /> Incorporation and By-laws (1989) provide the Board of Directors with authority to levy assessments to <br /> meet the necessary expenses of operation and maintenance of the Company, and to enforce unpaid <br /> assessments by ceasing water deliveries and eventually by selling the outstanding stock. <br /> Water Rights <br /> The water rights impacted by this project include: <br /> TABLE 1: IMPACTED WATER RIGHTS <br /> Appropriation Adjudication Water Court <br /> Name Amount Date Date Case No. <br /> Supply Ditch 92.2 CFS 5/31/1878 6/2/1882 CA1387 <br /> On average, annual diversions of the Company are 4,650 AF. <br />