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<br />'" <br /> <br />Larimer and Weld Irrigation Co. <br />September 14-15, 2004 <br /> <br />Agenda Item 4e <br /> <br />structures have been replaced with air-operated Obermeyer gates to control the upstream water . <br />surface elevations, This type of automatic gate has demonstrated significant improvement in canal <br />operations, In 2002 the CWCB approved a $1,000,000 loan to replace 10 check structures and <br />install one new one with this type of operation. This project was completed in June 2004 and is <br />now in permanent loan repayment. <br /> <br />The proposed project consists of replacing the Lake Lee Dam check structure (the only equalizer <br />facility on the ditch), replacing the Big Windsor Reservoir check and inlet structure, and constructing <br />a new check structure to replace the existing Finley structure. The Lake Lee Dam and the Big <br />Windsor Inlet are concrete control and conveyance structures that are in disrepair and have <br />reached obsolescence. With the failure of these two structures, LWIC would have a difficult time <br />operating the ditch and would lose water that is normally stored in the reservoir. The Finley check <br />structure has no means to apply stop logs or other measures to temporarily check the ditch and is <br />undermined. <br /> <br />Feasibility Studies <br /> <br />Duane Smith, P.E, of Smith Geotechnical Engineering Consultants of Fort Collins has completed <br />the feasibility study in accordance with CWCB guidelines, The study includes an assessment of <br />alternatives available for replacement of the check and inlet structures, <br /> <br />The Larimer and Weld Irriaation Company <br /> <br />The LWIC is a Colorado mutual ditch company and a non-profit corporation registered in the State <br />of Colorado, in good standing. The Company was incorporated in 1879. There are 350 . <br />shareholders and 1419 shares of stock. The LWIC exists in perpetuity and has the power to incur <br />indebtedness and to levy annual assessments to be paid by the shareholders, Stockholders <br />failing to pay assessments are "subject to provisions for the collection of assessments provided by <br />law.'! <br /> <br />Water Riahts <br /> <br />The LWIC holds some of the earlier rights on the Cache la Poudre River with decrees dating to <br />1884, and regularly diverts direct river flows up to the maximum decreed flow rate of 721 cfs. The <br />most significant source of carried water is Colorado-Big Thompson (CBT) water. Water from the <br />Big Windsor Reservoir and non-direct flows from nine other sources also augment flows in the <br />canal at various times. Total water delivered through the Larimer & Weld system averages <br />approximately 90,000 acre-feet per year. <br /> <br />Proiect Description <br /> <br />Three alternatives were analyzed in the feasibility study: <br /> <br />1. No-action alternative. <br />2. Repair existing structures ($471,100), <br />3. Replace all structures with new concrete structures/control gates ($1,666,700). <br /> <br />Alternative 1, No-action alternative, was not considered viable for the system to continue to <br />operate, unless irrigated land is taken out of production and the water stock liquidated. The system . <br />age (in excess of 100 years) and the level of deterioration of the structures have made operation <br />difficult and unsafe. Replacement or repair of the structures must be pursued if the company is to <br />continue to operate. The loss of effective use of the Lake Lee Dam and the Big Windsor Inlet would <br />have severe consequences for the company and its water users, Lake Lee acts as an equalizer, <br /> <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />