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<br />East Mancos Highline Ditch Company <br />July 12 2005 <br />Page 2 of 4 <br /> <br />Agenda Item 6c <br /> <br />and several others in the Mancos Valley. Qualifying agriculture producers that install "more efficient <br />irrigation systems", which reduce salt loadings may be eligible for funding by the EQIP. <br /> <br />Feasibility Study <br /> <br />Regina Williams, Company Secretary-Treasurer, has completed the feasibility study in accordance with <br />CWCB guidelines. The study includes an assessment of alternatives available for ditch rehabilitation. <br />The cost estimate is provided by Harward Irrigation. Raymond Keith of the Mancos Conservation <br />District continues to provide guidance and coordination on salinity projects in the valley. <br /> <br />The East Mancos Hiqhline Ditch Company <br /> <br />The Company is a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Colorado in January 2004 and is in <br />good standing. There are six Company members. The Company is relatively new; however, the Ditch <br />has been in existence for nearly 126 years. Prior to incorporation, an informal version of the Company <br />managed the Ditch by distributing costs or in-kind services for Ditch maintenance and repair needs <br />(approximately $500 per year). The Company's Funding Agreement establishes that member <br />assessments will be shared equally. The Company will own, operate and maintain the new pipe system <br />and diversion structure and will have the responsibility to receive, convey and deliver irrigation water to <br />the members of the Company. The Company will repair, improve and/or reconstruct the Ditch when <br />necessary. The Company DOES NOT own any of the water conveyed in the Ditch. <br /> <br />Water Riqhts <br /> <br />The members of the Company own the water rights conveyed in the Ditch. The source of the irrigation <br />water is the East Fork of the Mancos River. An open ditch currently carries the 8.58 cfs and an average <br />of 619 acre-feet per year (measured 1974-2002 per State Engineer's Office Summary), with the highest <br />diversion measured in 1997 of 1,228 ac-ft. The 8.58 cfs is diverted from the East Fork of the Mancos <br />River at diversion structure No. 522 under 32 different adjudicated rights with dates of appropriation <br />ranging from 1878 to 1890. In addition, 250 AF of storage rights in Jackson Gulch Reservoir are used <br />to supplement adjudicated rights late in the irrigation season. <br /> <br />Proiect Description <br /> <br />Three alternatives were analyzed in the feasibility study: <br /> <br />1) No action alternative <br />2) Individual members construct pipeline to meet their own needs <br />3) Participate in the Mancos Valley Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program <br /> <br />The Company chose to participate in the Salinity Control Program primarily due to the available NRCS <br />funding assistance. The selected alternative includes a new diversion structure, flow rate measurement <br />structure, approximately 30,385 feet of PVC pipeline, metered delivery points to each member, valves, <br />drains and vents, and river channel improvements to improve delivery of the water to the diversion <br />structure. <br /> <br />Total Project cost estimate is: <br /> <br />TOTAL <br /> <br />$150,646 (20% of Const. Cost) <br />753,354 <br />$904,000 <br /> <br />1. <br />2. <br /> <br />Planning/Engineering <br />Construction <br /> <br />The loan request is based on the total design and construction cost estimate for the Project, however <br />engineering design and construction oversight may be provided by NRCS as in-kind services. Design is <br />