CT2017-2253 Approval Letter

• Contract/PO #: CT2017-2253
• Contractor Name: Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Approval Letter

Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company Agenda Item 16a
September 21-22, 2016 Board Meeting(Updated September 22, 2016)
Page 3 of 5
Water Rights
The water rights of the Company associated with the Larimer a Weld diversion include:
TABLE 1: WATER RIGHTS
Amount Appropriation Adjudication Water Court
Name (CFS) Date Date Case No.
Larimer Weld Irr Canal 3.00 6/1/1864 4/11/1882 i CA0320
Larimer Weld Irr Canal 1.47 4/1/1866 4/11/1882 CA2798
Larimer Weld Irr Canal 16.67 4/1/1867 4/11/1882 CA0320
Larimer Weld Irr Canal 75.00 1 9/20/1871 4/11/1882 CA0320
Larimer Weld Irr Canal 43.33 r 1/15/1875 I 4/11/1882 CA0320
Larimer Weld Irr Canal 571.00 9/18/1878 4/11/1882 CA0320
In addition to the Company owned water rights above, the Company shareholders' C-BT water is
carried by the ditch, as well as water rights owned by the Larimer and Weld Reservoir Company and
the Windsor Reservoir Canal Company through carriage agreements. On average, approximately 85,000
AF per year of Company owned water rights are delivered to its shareholders.
Project Description
The goal of this Project is to ensure the Company can reliably divert its water rights, as well as to
ensure the headgates can reliably operate during flood events in conformance with Fort Collin's Dry
Creek Flood Control Project.
Alternative 1 - No Action: This alternative was considered unacceptable. The gates and the structure
are deteriorating with exposed rebar, rusted gates, and scour on the downstream portion of the canal,
jeopardizing future water deliveries. Additionally, with the Dry Creek Flood Control Project, it is
important to the safety of the community that these gates reliably operate in flood conditions.
Alternative 2 - Repair or Replace Entire Diversion System: This alternative would see the headgate
structure, trash rack and forebay structure, and the diversion structure repaired or replaced as one
construction project. The preliminary cost estimate of this alternative is $2,950,000. This alternative
was not selected because it was not guaranteed the entire diversion system could be replaced within
the non-irrigation season. It is of primary importance to the Company that construction activities do
not impact water deliveries during the irrigation season.
Selected Alternative 3 - Phased Replacement: Headgate Structure: This alternative focuses on
replacing the headgate structure as a standalone project. Construction activities will include the
replacement of the concrete structure, new gates and operators, and a new control building. The
headgates will maintain the existing flow capacity, which is sufficient for the Company's water rights
and carriage agreements. Based on experience from the September 2013 flood, the Company will not
be using electrically operated gates, but instead will use hydraulic operators with pumps that can be
elevated and isolated within the control house to protect them from flooding. The operators will have
both 12-volt and manual backup pump systems to allow gate operation even during times of power
outage or flooding. The concrete headgate structure will be wider than the existing structure to allow
for easier equipment access to facilitate maintenance of the headgate structure, and to serve as a
bridge across the ditch for maintenance equipment. The control building will be enlarged and elevated
to allow for sensitive controls and operational equipment to be kept inside; protecting them from
future floods and from vandalism.
The cost associated with this alternative is $750,000 as shown in Table 2.