C153748 Feasibility Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . '. , build the project and 2) Completely rehabilitate the entire . facility. A subjective evaluation of the alternatives follows: ~. Don't build the project: Shareholders would be unable to irrigate 2,200 acres of cropland or continue' to operate the ready-mix facility. The do nothing alternative is not feasible. In addition water would not be available for use for recharge and well augmenation. 2. Completely rehabilitate the facilities: Rebuilding the system will enable the shareholders to operate the project and continue a farming operation and ready-mix business. It will also allow the' farming operation to secure augmentation water in a considerably lesser amount by use of the six recharge ponds to be located along the ditch. Under new Rules and Regulations being adopted on the Arkansas River, all non-exempt irrigation and municipal wells must fully augment their consumptive use. The recharge ponds will feed water into the aquifer. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has provided technical engineering assistance establishing the required grades ~ and setting cut and fill stakes. The Company's engineer has .. provided design assistance for the road crossings and diversion works as well as with negotiations with the state water officials. THE SELECTED PROJECT 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 4,24S acre feet. Due to the previous owner going into bankruptcy, the ditch was allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. Also, some of the ditch was filled in to allow installation of sprinklers. It is the intention of the sponsor to rehabilitate the ditch for its entire length. At six points along the ditch recharge ponds will be incorporated into the ditch so as to recharge the aquifer. Water Water will also be delivered to the gravel pit of SQuthwest Ready- Mix to offset the evaporation fro~this pit and also to replace the water consumed in the production of gravel and concrete. The diversion dam in the river has also been mostly washed out and the sponsor will replace this structure with large concrete blocks cast by Southwest Ready-Mix. 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 z.