PUB00077

• Year: 1987
• Title: Construction Fund Annual Report 1987
• CWCB Section: Finance
• Author: CWCB
• Description: Construction Fund Annual Report 1987
• Publications - Doc Type: CF Annual Report

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COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD
721 State Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, COlorado 80203

Morrison Consolidated Ditch Project
(Morrison Consolidated Ditch Company)

Introduction

The Morrison Consolidated Ditch company's irrigation system
is located in southeast La Plata County, about 10 miles .
southeast of Durango. The system was initially constructed in
the late 1800s. About 8,800 acres are irrigated by the
system. The acreage ranges in elevations from 6,300 feet to
6,800 feet above mean sea level. Thirty-nine percent is in
alfalfa and hay, 42 percent in pasture, 1l percent in small
grains, and 8 percent in corn.

Problem

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A siphon constructed in 1946 has had a history of high
maintenance from the time it was constructed. Nearly every
section of the structure has been repaired, but now the bottom
side of the siphon is considered by the u.S. Soil Conservation
Service (SCS) to be beyond repair. In the immediate future.
severe breaks are expected to occur, causing the interruption
of water deliveries and resulting in reduced crop yields.

The feasibility study for this project was prepared by SCS
under the authority of sections 1528-38 of the Agriculture and
Food Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-98) and is the basis for the recommen-
dation for this project.

Proposed Proiect

After evaluating and studying several alternative plans for
the rehabilitation of the siphon structure, the alternative
selected was the installation of a new concrete siphon where
the present structure is now located. It will be a 950-foot
underground concrete siphon designed to carry ll0 cubic feet
per second of irrigation water. It will have a one-year
installation period and will cost $200,000.

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