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<br />Orchard Mesa Irrigation District <br />March 13, 2006 <br />Page 2 of 4 <br /> <br />Agenda Item 17a <br /> <br />plant was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation with funds advanced by PSCo of Colorado. <br />The District provides Excel Energy operation and maintenance cost assistance under an <br />agreement, which includes other partners in the Valley. <br /> <br />The Siphon was originally installed in 1920 as part of the Power Canal construction, which was <br />constructed as part of the Federal Government's Grand Valley Project. The Power Canal is the <br />primary water supply into the District's system. The condition of the Siphon has the District's <br />landowners concerned about impact to the District and its irrigated lands in the event of a failure <br />during the irrigation season. Some have valued the financial impact of a siphon failure during an <br />irrigation season at $250 million. <br /> <br />In 2005, with the assistance of a Loan Feasibility Study Grant of $15,000, the District evaluated <br />repair and replacement options for the Siphon. The District has determined that the Stokes Gulch <br />Siphon is in need of urgent attention; however, the District is concerned about several other siphons <br />and the condition of Power Canal itself: The District has increased assessments in order to address <br />several of the repair needs that have not been addressed in the last 30 years. <br /> <br />Loan Feasibilitv Study <br /> <br />The Loan Feasibility Study was prepared by Rita Crumpton, District Manager. In addition, financial <br />statements included in the Study were prepared by Chadwick, Steinkirchner, Davis & Co., P.C. The <br />study was prepared in accordance with the CWCB guidelines and includes preliminary engineering <br />design and cost estimates prepared by the engineering firm, Water Management Consultants of <br />Denver. <br /> <br />The Orchard Mesa Irriqation District <br /> <br />The District was organized in 1904 and became a part of the Federal Grand Valley Project in 1922. <br />The District operates under the 1921 Irrigation Act. The District has the power to levy annual <br />assessments; however, landowner approval is required toenter into a loan agreement over <br />$20,000. A landowner meeting was held on February 24th, 2006. Landowners present at the <br />meeting overwhelmingly approved the need to contract with CWCB for a loan. The District serves <br />5,040 customers and irrigates approximately 9,200 acres of land known as the Orchard Mesa. <br />District facilities include the Colorado River Siphon, the Power Canal, two pump stations, with <br />supply canals and pipelines. As a 1921 Act irrigation district, the county treasurer collects <br />assessments for Orchard Mesa, and the treasurer can enforce penalties and forfeitures for <br />delinquent assessments. <br /> <br />Water Riqhts <br /> <br />The District owns very senior water rights on the Colorado River. The rights include 460 cfs (450 cfs <br />priority 1907 and 10 cfs priority 1898) for irrigating and power generation. Water is diverted at the <br />Grand Valley Diversion Dam. An additional 14 cfs (priority 1966) is available for irrigation at the 29 <br />Road Pump Station. Lands with water rights within the District have a base allocation 8.18 gallons <br />per minute (gpm) per acre of continuous flow. The system is required to deliver the 8.18 gpm at all <br />times during the water delivery season. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Proiect Description <br /> <br />The purpose of this project is to replace the existing 85 year-old 12 foot diameter concrete siphon. . <br />The pipe has a capacity of 860 cfs. Failure of this siphon can cause significant damage to adjacent <br />