PROJ00262

• Contract/PO #: C153769
• Contractor Name: Agricultural Ditch & Reservoir Co.
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Jefferson
• Bill Number: SB 97-008
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Welch Ditch and then pumped back up to the Welcl1 Ditch at various locations for delivery to users. The

sections of the Welch Ditch to be replaced are high maintenance reaches that have historically been subject

to high seepage losses, and substantial maintenance and repair costs. The section that traverses the north

slope of South Table Mountain has historically been prone to landslides. Additionally, increased

development along the Welch Ditch, particularly through the Denver West area, has created the need for

other sections of the ditch to be piped. If these sections can be abandoned, developers will save the costs

of piping the ditch. The proposed project will result in less seepage loss and lower maintenance costs, and

the users will ultimately benefit from a more efficient and consistent water supply.

Alternatives Evaluated

A range of alternatives were considered to detennine a technically feasible and financially efficient method
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of improving the Welch Ditch. The alternatives evaluated include 1) Do nothing to improve the Welch

Ditch, 2) Abandon several high maintenance sections of the Welch ditch, combine portions of the Welch

and Agricultural Ditches, and return Welch Ditch water to users by pumping out of the Agricultural Ditch,

and 3) Completely replace all high maintenance sections of the Welch Ditch with pipe and/or lining.

A subjective evaluation of the alternatives follows;

I.

Do nothing to improve the Welch Ditch:

Users will continue to pay substantial maintenance and repair costs for the section of the

Welch Ditch north of South Table Mountain; high contingency funds will need to be

reserved to maintain capital necessary to pay for emergencies. This section of the ditch is

prone to landslides and historically has required significant repairs on an annual basis. In

addition, developers will have to pipe sections ofthe ditch through developing areas, such

as Denver West, which will be very costly. Although this alternative is feasible, it is very

costly and further slides on South Table Mountain could completely obliterate the Welch

Ditch. In addition, frequent repairs to the ditch interrupt the supply and decrease the annual

yield.

2.

Abandon several high maintenance sections of the Welch ditch, combine portions of the

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~ I Bishop.Brogden Associales, Inc