BOARD00959

• Board Meeting Date: 7/25/2006
• Description: CF Section - New Project Loans - Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Company - Ditch Rehabilitation Project
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX, [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.u5

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bruce Johnson, P.E. ~~?:2; r
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief '- .J,
Water Supply Planning and inance Section

Russell George
Executive Director

FROM:

Rod Kuharich
eWeB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE: July 14, 2006

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 8a, July 25-26, 2006 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section - New Project Loans
Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Company - Ditch Rehabilitation Project

Introduction

The Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Company (LPCDC) is applying for a $1,800,000 loan from the
Construction Fund to rehabilitate their existing piped irrigation ditch. The estimated total cost of the
project is $2,000,000. Please see the attached Project Data Sheet.

Backaround

LPCDC provides irrigation water to a 500-acre service area in Lincoln Park, immediately south and
adjacent to Canon City in unincorporated Fremont County. The irrigated acreage in the service
area is primarily residential lawns and gardens, hobby farms and pastures, but also includes some
larger farms including a dairy farm and horse breeding facility. Typical lot and tract sizes are 0.25
to 5+ acres. Domestic water service to residents is provided by the City of Canon City. LPCDC
water is initially diverted from the Arkansas River through the South Canon Ditch, and travels about
3 miles to the LPCDC headgate, located in the northeast area of Lincoln Park. LPCDC diverts an
average of 1,850 AF annually.

The LPCDC ditch system extends in a southeasterly direction from their headgate, and has several
branches totaling 62,220 lineal feet (If), or about 11.8 miles in length. The ditch consists of 29,075 If
of 36" and 8540 If of 24" of concrete pipe, 16,085 If of 18" concrete/PVC pipe, and 8520 If of open
ditch. The ditch has been in operation since 1891, with no major rehabilitation, other than ongoing
maintenance and repairs. The existing, original piping (hand-poured concrete) has deteriorated and
there are numerous leaks in the system due to age and wear. The ditch suffers from significant
water loss, and the deteriorated pipe poses a threat to property and individuals should the pipe fail.
In addition, there is an area where the ditch is located along the edge of the bluff overlooking the
Arkansas River. where pipe and slope stability is a concern. LPCDC would be very vulnerable in
terms of delivery to users and property damage if the ditch were lost, particularly during irrigation
season.

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