BOARD01036

• Board Meeting Date: 11/22/1999
• Description: CF Section - New Loans - Town of Ridgeway
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: 003} 866-4474

STATE OF COLOAADO

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MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director, ON R

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Peter H. Evans
Director, eweB
John Van Sciver _-rv.s
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief, Water Supply Planning and Finance SectionW\)

November 12,1999

DATE:

SUBJECT:

Agenda Item 13a., November 22-23,1999 Board Meeting
Town of Ridgway

Introduction
The Town of Ridgway is applying to the Board for a loan of $77,000 to construct a raw water
pip~line to provide irrigation for Town parks. The estimated cost of the project is $108,000. Please
see the attached project summary and map.

BackQround
Ridgway is located in Ouray County, and currently provides potable water to its residents through
the Town's Water Utility. The Town owns water rights, storage reservoirs, a water treatment plant,
and a distribution system to provide this service. During the summer months this system is
already taxed because of the high demand for water for outside irrigation, The Town wishes to
develop a new 18-acre park, which will require irrigation beyond the capabilities of the existing
potable water system. Without added treatment capacity, or a separate raw water irrigation
system, the Town will not be able to develop the park for use by residents,

Feasibility Studies
Ridgway retained Joanne Fagan P.E., to oversee completion of a feasibility study. The study was
completed September 1999 and includes an assessment of altematives available to provide
irrigation water for Town parks.

The Town of Ridawav
Ridgway is an incorporated Colorado Municipality and there are 350 customers served by the
Town's water utility. The Town's Water Utility Enterprise has the power to set water rates paid
by its customers, and the power to cut off water service to customers that fail to pay their water
bill. There are approximately 440 acres within the Ridgway Town limits.

Water RiQhts
Ridgway's water rights consist of several decrees with dates of appropriation ranging from 1882
to 1892. The total amount for domestic uses is 5 cfs, and total amount for irrigation purposes is
27 cfs. Ridgway currently diverts at a maximum rate of about 0.5 cfs, which is the design
capacity of the existing water treatment plant. Average annual diversions are 150 acre-feet for
domestic use,