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4.1. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES <br /> Alternative 1 - No Action Alternative <br /> Following the failure earlier this year, a temporary, earthen plug and spillway structure was <br /> constructed in the existing canal so that the Company could continue to operate through the <br /> irrigation season. As shown in Figure 4, the plug was constructed below the spillway <br /> structure in the channel returning to the Arkansas River. A vertical pipe to maintain level <br /> control and spill excess water was placed upstream of the plug. The failed concrete spillway <br /> structure was left in the channel. <br /> The temporary repair is suitable to divert Company water rights which are typically in-priority <br /> (approximately 50 cfs most years). At times during the 2014 irrigation season, the Company <br /> was unable to divert its full, in-priority diversion rate during the 2014 irrigation season <br /> because the level control and plug do not provide sufficient freeboard. Further, sediment is <br /> building up on the west bank of the spillway structure, upstream of the level control. There is <br /> no way to flush sediment with the temporary repair, so the sediment will have to be removed <br /> by mechanical means. Finally, the trash rack associated with the level control is difficult to <br /> access and it is oriented in such a way that it makes debris removal difficult without entering <br /> the canal upstream of the structure. <br /> The Companies do not prefer the "No Action" alternative because of the deficiencies <br /> associated with the temporary repair. With relatively minor modifications, it is possible that <br /> the temporary repair could be used for a few more irrigation seasons without endangering <br /> the canal, but it is not a permanent solution. <br /> September 2014 Draft <br /> Page 110 <br />