BOARD02121

• Board Meeting Date: 7/24/2000
• Description: CF Section - Peoples Ditch Company
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.

e

e

e

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone, [phone]
FAX [phone] ME MORA N DUM

Q

TO:

Bill Owens
Governor

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

-77< hi <:
John Van Sciver, P.E:-~- j ;:--->
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chieta;)
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section.

FROM:

Greg E.Walcher
Executive Director

Peter H. Evans
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE: July 12, 2000

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 12a., July 24-25, 2000 Board Meeting
The Peoples Ditch Company

Introduction
The Peoples Ditch Company (POC) is applying for a $43,000 Small Project Loan to construct a
pipeline that will replace the Company's diversion that was washed out in 1997. The estimated
total cost of the project is $75,000. Please see the attached project summary and map.

Backaround
The PDC, located in Logan County, operates the Peoples Ditch for the benefit of the shareholders
by providing direct flow irrigation water. The ditch historically diverted from the South Platte River,
6 miles northeast of Sterling, and water deliveries were made through the Company's ditch to the
700-acre service area. The POC diversion was damaged during the flood of 1995, and then
washed out in 1997. It is not possible to deliver water to the shareholders. The PDC needs to
rebuild or replace the diversion as soon as possible, preferably in fall 2000, when the weather is
good, and stream flows are at a minimum. The Company is eligible for a loan from the Small
Project Loan Account, since delaying construction until summer or fall 2001 would result in a
hardship on the Borrower. The diversion is not currently useable.

Feasibility Studies
Lynn R Lovell, P.E., Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Sterling, has completed a
Preliminary Engineering Report, Preliminary Plans and Specifications and a Cost Estimate for the
project. John Van Sciver has completed the CWCB Feasibility Study using information provided
by the NRCS and the Company. The study includes an assessment of alternatives available for
rehabilitation or replacement of the POC diversion.

The Peoples Ditch Companv
The PDC is a mutual ditch company and a non-profit corporation registered in the State of
Colorado. There are only 6 shareholders and 36 shares of stock. The PDC has the power to