BOARD00182

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2006
• Description: CF Section - Construction Fund and Severance Tax Trust Fund Perpetual Base Account New Loans - Orchard Mesa Irrigation District - Stokes Gulch Siphon Replacement
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of N atnral Resources
1313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

Russell George
Executive Director

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Rod Kuharich
eWeB Director

FROM:

.:?- .
Kirk Russell, P.E. 'f.-b '--tfI~,/ (
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief /"tLJ
Water Supply Planning an Finance Section

Rick Brown
Acting Deputy
Director

DATE: March 13, 2006

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 17a, March 21-22, 2005 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section - New Loans
Orchard Mesa Irrigation District - Stokes Gulch Siphon Replacement

. Introduction

The Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (District) is applying for a loan from the Colorado Water
Conservation Board in the amount of $540,000 for the Stokes Gulch Siphon Replacement Project
(Project). The Stokes Gulch Siphon (Siphon) crosses Stokes Gulch adjacent to the Colorado River
and is part of the District's Power Canal. The Siphon and Power Canal are owned and operated by
the District for the conveyance of water for power generation and irrigation. The Siphon is located
two miles east of Palisade aiong US 6. The Project will replace the existing siphon and is expected
to cost $600,000. Construction is scheduled for the winter of 2006. See attached Project Data
Sheet for a location map and a project summary.

Backqround

. Colorado River water is diverted into the Government Highline Canal (GHC) at the Grand Valley
Project Diversion Dam (Roller Dam), about 23 miles northeast of Grand Junction. Water is then
diverted into the Power Canal (capacity of 800 cfs) from the GHC approximately five miles
downstream of the Roller Dam. This water passes under the Colorado River in a siphon via the
Power Canal to the District's pumping plant (Plant), where it is pumped into the District's Canals No.
1 and 2 for distribution to the water users.

.

The Plant lifts water from the Power Canal to the distribution system. The Plant contains four pump
units: two have a combined capacity of 80 cfsand a lift of 41 ft to Canal No.1; two have a
combined capacity of 60 cfs with a lift of 130 ft to Canal No.2. Water is then conveyed to privately
owned and operated laterals.

Xcel Energy owns a hydro power plant adjacent to the District's pumping plant. The hydro power
plant operates under a maximum head of 79 feet and has a capacity of 3,000 kilowatts. The hydro

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning