C153857 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C153857
• Contractor Name: Western Mutual Ditch Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 2
• County: Weld
• Bill Number: SPL
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Western Mutual Diversion Repairs and Improvements
CWCB Feasibility Study
May 6, 1998 (Revised December 29, 1998)

Table 1

Western Mutual Ditch Company Water Rights (Hewes & Cook)
Western Mutual Ditch - Diversion Repairs and Improvements

Appropriation Date Adjudication Date Amount Administration
(cis) Number
May 5,1866 April 28, 1883 27.45 5969,00000
August 10, 1871 April 28, 1883 71.12 7892.00000
January 26,1894 August 2, 1918 86.43 16097,00000
Total 185,00

Diversions of river water for irrigation at the Western Mutual headgate averaged 19,532 acre-feet
per year for the period 1950 through 1997. A summary of the diversions, prepared by the Division
of Water Resources Division 1 Engineer's Office in Greeley, is included in Appendix C.

Need for the Project

The Ditch Company is undertaking this project to continue to provide irrigation water to its
shareholders to irrigate their crops,

Due to flooding in the summer of 1995 and in 1997, the company's check structure on the south
channel experienced extensive damage. Prolonged exposure to flood water eroded a portion of the
check structure and undermined what remains, instigating erosion of the sand bed in an upstream
direction toward the main channel of the river. Without replacement of the check dam, the small
south channel may become the main river channel, bypassing the Ditch Company's diversion dam,
reducing the ability to divert water for irrigation or for recharge purposes. The Ditch Company is
seeking funds to replace the check structure and to install riprap revetment around the east end of
the island between the north and south channels,

In the future the Ditch Company may investigate the need for river training works such as riprap
spurs to better confine the river to its north channel. Installation of any river training works such as
spurs will require an agreement between the Ditch Company and West Farm LLC, owner of the
south river ban k.

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