WSP06163

• File Number: 8276.140
• Description: Grand Valley Unit - Colorado River Basin Salinity Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/12/1991
• Title: The Grand Valley Irrigation Company - Contract Reports
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

paid or incurred up to the point funding is suspended,
GVIC has the right to suspend its perfonnance (i.e.,
C stop work) should funding be suspended for any rea-
.::: son, In the event Reclamation defaults in providing
,;:: funding, then GVIC may suspend its performance and
c:.: enforce payment of un reimbursed costs or expenses by
r. legal action.
c::

. Comnliance With Federal Laws. GVIC is obligated
to comply with federal laws pertaining to equal em-

ployment opportunity, civil rights laws and water and
air pollution controL

. Miscellaneous. The 0 & M Agreement may not be
assigned without the approval of Reclamation. Mem-
bers of the U.S, Congress are not to benefit from this 0
& M Agreement except to the extent they are a GVIC
water user or landowner, Finally, subcontracts ex-
ceeding $25,000 shall be open for public bidding and
will require performance bonds.

11~~~III.II~~~~gl!$

1. Who can participate in the Salinity Control
Program?

Answer' Initially, only shareholders with lateral
ditches taking their water from the Keifer Extension,
Grand Valley Highline and Grand Valley Canal east of
the split (located at 7th Street and Horizon Drive) are
eligjble to participate in salinity control provided the
conditions of eligjbility are met. If salinity control im-
provements on these laterals can be constructed at an
average si1-vings of 25% or more of the Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) estimates, then the re-
maining laterals on the Mainline and Independent
Ranchman's Canal (deferred increments) will become
eligjble.

2. What are the conditions of eligibility for a
participating lateral?

Answer: A participating lateral must satisfy three
conditions to be eligible. First, the participating lateral
must be incorporated with the power to enter into a
contract for salinity improvements with Grand Valley
Irrigation Company and assess its members for its
share of operation and maintenance (0 & M) costs.
Secondly, the participating lateral must obtain and
make available necessary easements for construction
and 0 & M. And, third, the participating lateral must
enter into an agreement with GVIC for the construc-
tion and 0 & M ofihe participaiing lateral's salinity
improvements.

3. WiJI GVIC assist participating laterals in
meeting the conditions of eligibility?

I
,I

Answer: GVIC can provide assistance to meet the
conditions of eligjbility. Such assistance includes:

-- GVIC will develop and provide standardized or-
ganizational documents;

--GVIC will develop and provide standardized fonns
of easements and rights,of-way agreements;

-- Participating laterals who meet all conditions of
eligibility may obtain reimbursement for costs oflegal
organization up to $1,500; and

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-- Participating laterals who meet all of the require-
ments for eligjbility, and who have undertaken emi-
nent domain proceedings to obtain necessary rights-
of-way and easements are eligjble for reimbursement
for their legal fees and costs up to $2,000.

4. Will anyone be forced to participate in sa-
linity control?

Answer: No' The eligible lateral's choice to partici,
pate in the Salinity Control Program is purely volun,
tary.

5. What is "saved" water?

Answer: Earth ditches lose a certain amount of
water through leakage, seepage and evaporation.
"Saved" water is a tenn to describe water not lost
through seepage or evaporation when earth ditches
are placed in pipe or otherwise lined.

6. What happens to GVIC's "saved" water if
salinity improvements are constructed?

Answer' According to the 0 & M Agreement, any
water that is saved or salvaged as a result of salinity
improvements will solely benefit the GVIC sharehold-
ers. Reclamation has expressly agreed that it will not
attempt, directly or indirectly, to have GVIC's headgate
diversions or deliveries to shareholders curtailed be-
cause of salinity improvements.

The Federal Government (Bureau of
Reclamation) has expressly agreed
that it will not attempt, directly or
indirectly, to have GVIC's main
headgate diversions or deliveries to
shareholders curtailed because of
salinity improvements.

7. Are GVIC's water rights threatened by the
salinity improvements?

Answer' It is difficult to see any way that GVIC
water rights can be threatened by Reclamation be-

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