BOARD01628

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2004
• Description: CF Section - New Loans - Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company - Ditch Structure Rehabilitiation
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone'003)866.3441
FAX, [phone]
W"WW.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
. Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bruce Johnson, P.E. 0 ~' '
Mike Serlet, P.E., ChiefLrP (1
Water Supply Planning ancl-Fif\ance Section

Russell George
Executive Director

FROM:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE: September 3,2004

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 4e, September 14-15, 2004 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section - New Loans
Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company - Ditch Structure Rehabilitation

Introduction

The Larimer and Weld Irrigation Company (LWIC) is applying for a $1,500,000 loan from the
Severance Tax Trust Fund Perpetual Base Account to rehabilitate several structures on the Larimer &
Weld Ditch (Eaton Ditch), The project includes replacing one equalizer check structure (Lake Lee
Dam), replacing the Big Windsor Reservoir check and inlet structure, and replacing the Finley check
structure. The estimated total cost of the project is $1,666,700. Please see the attached Project Data
Sheet

Backqround

The LWIC service area extends from the Cache la Poudre River diversion north of Fort Collins east
to near the town of Galeton, encompassing approximately 86,000 acres. Of this area over 55,000
acres are irrigated and planted in crops or pasture. The LWIC facilities consist of approximately 40
miles of supply ditch, including many control structures, checks and headgates. The Company has
direct flow rights from its diversion in the Cache la Poudre River, and is also a carrier ditch for
reservoir water owned by its stockholders and stockholders in several other ditch and reservoir
companies, as well as stockholders that own Colorado - Big Thompson (CBT) water. The
companies that own stock in the Larimer & Weld Ditch and convey water through its system include
Divide Reservoir & Canal Company, the Windsor Reservoir & Canal Company, and the Larimer &
Weld Reservoir Company,

The Larimer & Weld Ditch (also known as Eaton Ditch) is typical of main supply canals used for
irrigation in Colorado, using a series of check structures and gates to control water levels in the
ditch, allowing delivery of water through headgates into lateral ditches, directly onto fields, or into
reservoir storage, Many of the structures have been in service since the start of canal operations in
the late 1800's, using stop logs (boards) with guides in the concrete structures to control the water
levels, Most of the ditch maintenance has been of a minor repair nature until recently when LWIC
undertook an aggressive structure replacement program, Since 2001, 12 of the existing check

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