PROJ00434

• Contract/PO #: C153337
• Contractor Name: Farmers Extension Ditch & Highland Lake Lateral Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 1
• County: Weld
• Bill Number: FSA
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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WATER

At present, an average of 24,700 acre-feet per irrigation season are used by the

shareholders, According to the Farmers Ditch,Ditch Rider, the maximum flow rate

which can be supplied through the ditch on a given day is about 200 cubic feet

per second. The flow rate can be regulated at the headworks of the ditch by

opening gates as needed. Water is supplied to the farmers by ordering the amount

desired a day before delivery is needed. Because of the current condition of the

ditch, it takes this day to set the necessary check structures and have the water

in the ditch rise to a height sufficient to supply the amount of water ordered.

After rehabilitation, we expect this time period to be reduced to a few hours.

The Highland Lake Lateral and Farmers Extension Irrigation Ditches receive their

waters through the Highland and New Ish Ditches. Historically, the Ditch Companies

have been able to receive all the water they have needed, even during lean years,

as in 1977. Water for irrigation purposes are obtained by decrees on water supplied

by the Highland Ditch Company or from the Ish Reservoir Co. which has contractural

agreements with the Boulder-Larimer Irrigation and Manufacturing Company (OLD ISH).

The following figures have been compiled showing the available water from each

source for last year.

Highland Ditch Company (1980)
Reservoir water; 307 shares x 35 ac-ft./share = 10745 ac-ft.
River water; Big Thompson River 4205 ac-ft. x 60% issue = 2523 ac-ft.
Minimum water available from
Highland Ditch Company 13268 ac-ft,
Rented water (1980) 3973 ac-ft.
Total water available from Highland Ditch17089 ac-ft.

Ish Reservoir Company (1980)

Reservoir water; 460 shares x 5.75 ac-ft, /share = 2645 ac-ft.

River water; 6502 ac-ft. x 60% issue = 3901 ac-ft.

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