C153787 Feasibility Study - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I There are four adjudicated water rights for the Smith Ditch with amounts and priority dates as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Smith Ditch Water Rights Date of Adjudication 9/22/1892 9/22/1892 9/1/1960 12/31/1989 Date of Appropriation 12/6/1886 3/26/1888 5/1/1939 4/15/1988 Total Amount (cfs) 5.46 2.20 13.33 2.00 22.99 The Smith Ditch diversion record, as provided by the Water Division 6 Engineer's Office, for the years 1932 to 1996 is displayed in Appendix D. Water was diverted when it was available in most of those years. The average annual diversion for 63 years of record was 1,205 acre-feet. 5. Project Description The purpose of this project is to provide a means for the Smith Ditch to continue to utilize diversions from Elkhead Creek. Three alternatives were considered: 1. Using a pump to divert water from Elkhead Creek into the ditch, 2. Construction of a new diversion structure in the main channel of the creek, and 3. No action. Alternative No. I would involve significant pumping costs as well as the installation of power lines to a fairly remote area. In addition, and probably most important, the pumping alternative is not acceptable to the members of the Corporation. Alternative No.3 would result in the conversion of about 400 acres of productive irrigated crop lands to dryland crops. This alternative is addressed in more detail in the economic analysis in Section 9 ofthis report. The selected alternative, Alternative No.2, involves the construction of a new diversion structure to be located about 200 feet downstream ofthe existing diversion and headgate. Engineering designs and cost estimates for the project have been prepared by the Routt County Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Plan and cross section views, as prepared by the NRCS, are shown in Figure 3. 5