PROJ00223

• Contract/PO #: C153723
• Contractor Name: Orchard Mesa Irrigation District
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Mesa
• Bill Number: HB 95-1155
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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CHAPTER III

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

A,

PROJECT SETTING

L GeneraL

The Orchard Mesa Irrigation District encompasses 10,027 acres in the southeast
sector of the Grand Valley Project; water is provided to approximately 9200
acres. The District is about 2 miles wide and 15 miles long, with the eastern
end near the community of Palisade and the western boundary at the Gunnison
River (Figure II-A). It is bordered on the north by the Colorado River and on
the south by open desert; Canal No.2 forms much of this latter boundary,
Most of the District lands are situated on Orchard Mesa, an ancient river
terrace adjacent to and above the present Colorado River Valley.

2.

gf:--

Figure. -A shows the service area of OMID and approximate locations of the
ditches OMID is responsible for, plus existing major lateral ditches owned and
maintained by individual water users or associations.

The MML project location is shown in more detail on Figure III-A. The
MML ditch is approximately 4 miles long, beginning in the SW 1;4 NE 1;4 Sec.
32, T,l S., R.l E., Ute PM, and flowing in a generally northwesterly
direction to the terminus in SE ',4 SE 1;4, Sec. 23, T.1 S. R. 1 W., Ute PM.

3. Service Area for Mutual Mesa Lateral.

The MML project serves approximately 2100 acres of land in the northwest
portion of the OMID service area. A portion of this area lies within the city
limits of Grand Junction; the remainder is in unincorporated Mesa County
(Figure III-A). The lands served consist of a co-mingle of residential and
small tract agricultural. The agricultural lands produce pasture, hay and
vegetables, The residential area is a mix of large lots, single family
residences, and townhouse or apartment complexes,

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