BOARD00347

• Board Meeting Date: 1/22/2003
• Description: CF Section - Low Line Ditch Company
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Deparhnent of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.cQ.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

FROM:

John Van Sciver, P.E. -.:::tW\.IS
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief R/ {
Water Supply Planning an~nance Section.

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

DATE:

January 9, 2003

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 19h., January 22-23,2003 Board Meeting
Low Line Ditch Company

Introduction
The Low Line Ditch Company (LLDC) is applying for a $94,500 loan to construct a series of
recharge ponds and an augmentation welL The estimated total cost of the project is $105,000.
Please see the attached project summary and map.

Backaround
The LLDC, located in Logan County, operates the Low Line Ditch for the benefit of its
shareholders by providil:lg delivery of water for irrigation within a 2,070-acre service area. The
system consists of a headgate on the South Platte River at Sterling and about 7 miles of ditch.

There are also 13 junior wells under the Low Line system, used as a supplemental supply to the
ditch water. The depletions from the pumping of the LLDC wells must be replaced during times
when there is a "call" on the river by a senior downstream water right. GASP has successfully
been used for the past 30 years to cover the depletions on these wells. However, GASP
operates on a year-to-year basis with no guarantee of continued coverage. The current drought
has brought to the foreground just how difficult it is to provide adequate augmentation for well
users. GASP has even'indicated to its members that if the drought continues, well pumping
may be curtailed next year,

The LLDC wants to develop a recharge system that will generate augmentation water to be
used to offset the depletions caused by their 13 wells. By generating their own augmentation
the LLDC shareholders can protect themselves from possible curtailment and help GASP
strengthen its coverage in the same area of the river.

Feasibility Studies
Brent Nation, P.E. of Nation Engineering Services, has completed the feasibility study. The report
includes an evaluation of alternatives available to generate an augmentation supply for the LLDC.