BOARD01397

• Board Meeting Date: 3/24/2003
• Description: CF Section - Low Line Ditch Company - Loan Increase
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

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

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Colorado Water ConseNation Board Members

John Van Sciver, P.E. )- WV
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief /J.J f
Water Supply Planning an~~ance Section.

FROM:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE: March 13,2003

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 25a., March 24-26, 2003 Board Meeting
Low Line Ditch Company - Loan Increase

Introduction
The Low Line Ditch Company (LLDC) is applying for a $65,250 increase in an existing CWCB
loan, to rehabilitate its diversion on the South Platte River. The estimated total cost of this project
is $il2,500. The new total loan amount will be $159,750. Please see the attached project summary
and map.

Backaround
The LLDC, located in Logan County, operates the Low Line Ditch for the benefil of its
shareholders by providing 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.

In January 2003 the LLDC was approved for a $94,500 CWCB Small Project loan 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.

The LLDC has discovered the difference between running the ditch in the summer months,
versus running the ditch year round. Recharge systems require that the recharge ponds be
filled during the winter months, at rates less than summer diversion rates. The current LLDC
diversion does not efficiently divert the required wintertime water, and needs to be rehabilitated.
As a positiveside effect, summer diversions would also become more efficient.

Feasibilitv Studies
Brent Nation, P.E. of Nation Engineering Services, has completed the feasibility study. The report
includes an evaluation of alternatives available to rehabilitate the LLDC river diversion structure.