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Feasibility Study Rehabilitation of the Excelsior Ditch July 1996; Updated March 1998 Page 12 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I THE SELECTED PROJECT It is the intention of the sponsor to rehabilitate the ditch for its entire length. The work will be done in two phases. Phase 1 will include construction of a new headgate (intake structure) on the river, a wasteway structure at 36th lane, and a gaging station at the Western Mobile Inc. wasteway. The ditch will be cleaned from the headgate to where it crosses Highway 96/50 at Chico Creek, a distance of some 6-1/2 miles. The grade of the ditch has been established by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (SCS). In addition, a hard point will be constructed at a point above the river diversion dam to direct the river into the main channel and away from the north side of the river where the ditch intake is located. Completion of Phase 1 will allow delivery of water to the gravel pit of Western Mobile, Inc. to offset the evaporation from this pit and also to replace the water consumed in the production of gravel and concrete. It will also allow credit for augmentation water returned to the river through the Western Mobile wasteway. Phase 2 will include construction of a new diversion dam on the river and 3 concrete check structures in the ditch, and reconstruction of the wasteway at 35th lane. It will also include installation of pumps, sumps, and controls to deliver ditch water for irrigation. This phase will allow diversion and use of direct flow ditch rights for irrigation. The diversion dam in the river has been mostly washed out and the sponsor will replace this structure with large concrete blocks cast by Western Mobile (see attached plans in Appendix C.) The elevation of this structure will only be high enough to direct water into the ditch during the higher summer flows. In the off irrigation season, and during the winter storage season from November 15 to March 15 when the river is at a lower stage, a sand dam will be pushed over the concrete blocks in order to get water. In the spring this sand will be washed down the river. However, this arrangement will allow water to be diverted at a minimum cost. WATER RIGHTS The project sponsors own the water rights of the Excelsior Ditch which consist of a 20 c.f.s. decree with a priority date of May 1, 1887 and a 40 c.f.s. decree with a priority date of January 6,1890. Over a 77-year period these water rights have produced an average annual diversion of 4,248 acre-feet. (See Appendix D.) The ditch has a capacity of 60 c.f.s. with the ability to supply about 120 acre-feet per day during the irrigation season, subject to the priority dates of the two decrees.