WSP06638

• File Number: 8240.200.43.A
• Description: Grand Valley/Orchard Mesa
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/24/1987
• Title: Orchard Mesa Irrigation District Palisade Pumping Plant Tailrace Check Structure and By-Pass Channel
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

S~rt(~mher 12, 198ci
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I. When the check is employed, it raises the water in the
afterbay below the Grand Valley Project power plant and the
Di~trictOs pumping plant. As a result. the ability of the
District to lift the full amount of its irrigation water is
reduced substantially and the power pl~~t is deprived of
generating capacity. The District must'then resort to
Supplemental separate pumping facilities. One of the
supplementaL facilitie~ii the-Bridges Switch Pumping
Station, which is located approximately 3 miles below the
headgate of the Grand Valley Irrigation Company Canal.
Even with the Bridges Switch' and the other supplemental
pumps operating. the District is not able to lift
sufficient water to fully Compensate for the losses of
irrigating water resulting from utilization of the cheek.
As you can appreciate, the maintenance and operation of the
check and supplemental pumping f4cilitiss is very
expensive.

II. The District and the Grand Valley Water Users'
Association both receive substantial funds from the
Operation of the Grand Valley power plant. Which funds are
u!led to redUce indebtedness due the United States. When
the effiCiency of the power plant is reduced as a result of
implementation of the cheCk. both the Association and the
District suffer substantial losses in net power revenues.

While District management firmly ascribes to efficient use
of the waters rising in the Colorado River basin. it is not
willing to suffer the losses and other consequences reSUlting
from implementation of the check. Representatives of the
D,strict are certainly willing to meet with representatives of
those organizations who divert water 'under junior decrees above
the Grand Valley reclamation dam. to expLore the Possibilities
of alleViating the sever losses and consequences resulting from
use of thp. check. However. management is convinced that
llnplementation of the, check is ordinate fOr the benefit of the
'-'Ppropriators upstream from the Grand Valley Project dam.
-"
Therefore. it will remain firm in its decision that until ~_J-'
system can be found which will completely protect the District
from ~ny adverse consequences arising from'operation Oflehe
check. the Distric~ will not employ the check for the benefit of
junior priorities. I

Respectfully ~~bmitted,

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