WSP08189

• File Number: 8276.130.10
• Description: Grand Valley Unit - Colorado River Basin Salinity Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/1986
• Title: Information Sheet -- Lateral Improvement Program - Stage Two Development - Grand Valley Unit Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

INFORMATION SHEET

July 1986

LATERAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
STAGE TWO DEVELOPMENT
GRAND VALLEY,UNIT, COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL PROJECT

1. WHAT IS THE GRAND VALLEY UNIT?

The Grand Valley Unit is a component of the Colorado River Basin
Salinity Control Project. Its purpose is to reduce the salt added to
the Colorado River annually as a result of conveyance system seepage
and agricultural practices. The salt contribution is estimated at
about 580,000 tons annually. The unit was authorized for
construction by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974
(Public Law 937'320). Provisions of that law were later amended by
Public Law 98-569~ enacted in October 1984.

Z. WHAT IS STAGE TWO OF THE LATERAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM?

Unlined laterals served by the Mesa County and Palisade Irrigation
Districts and by the Grand Valley Irrigation Company will be replaced
with pipe to reduce seepage and in turn reduce salt loading to the
Colorado River. In most cases, this pipe would he placed on existing
alignments; in other cases, existing laterals might be combined into
fewer laterals. The laterals served by the Orchard Mesa Irrigation
District are included in the Stage Two plan; however, they are not
scheduled for construction untit about the year 2000. Two of the
five lateral areas served by the Grand Valley Irrigation Company are
also scheduled for construction starts in the out years 1997 and 1998
(the Grand Valley Mainline Canal laterals and the Independent
Ranchmen's Ditch laterals, respectively).

3. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM uLATERAL"?

Reclamation has defined a lateral as any water conveyance from the
districts' or company'g main canals that serves two or more people or
traverses more than one ownership. Under Colorado law, a lateral is
defined as a side ditch or conduit (as distinguished from a main
ditch) which has its headgate in the main ditch, not in a natural
water course.

4. UNDER THE PRIVATE LATERAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, WHO WILL ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE IMPROVED
LATERALS?

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act requires that
non-Federal entities assume the responsibility for operatIng and
maintaining the improved laterals. Reclamation is proposing that the
Grand Valley Irrigation Company and the Mesa County and Palisade
Irrigation Districts operate and maintain the laterals ser....ed by
their systems pursuant to contracts that will be executed with
Reclamation.

5. WHY IS IT PREFERABLE THAT THE IM.PROVED LATERALS BE OWNED,
OPERATED, AND MAINTAINED BY THE IRRIGATION COMPANY AND DISTRICTS?

11'<)1:

Considering the large number of lateral users and owners, it would be
impractical for the Federal Government to enter into a contract with
each one individually. A more efficient and effective way of
administering the program would be to contract with the irrigation
company and districts who deliver the irrigation water to the
,la.terals and who are therefore familiar with the overall irrigation
......

system. Also, since the laterals will be placed in pipe, special
maintenance equipment will be required. It will be more efficient to
have the irrigation company and districts provide the equipment to
perform the maintenance and annual inspection activities.

6. WILL EACH LATERAL USER BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LATERAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM?

This decision will be the responsibi.lity of the irrigation company
and districts, and it will be made on a case-by-case basis.

7. WHO WILL BEAR THE COSTS FOR IMPROVING THE LATERAL SYSTEMS?

As authorized by Congress, the Federal Government will bear the full
construction costs of the lateral improvement program for the benefit
of salinity reduction in the Colorado River.

8. WHO WILL ASSUME THE COSTS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE EXPENSES?

Reclamation will also assume any additional operation and maintenance
costs beyond the normal operation and maintenance ~xpenscs for the
existing lateral systems.

9. AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, SOME FARMERS HAVE ALREADY HADE NUMEROUS
IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR LATERAL SYSTEMS, INCLUIHNG LINING WITH
CONCRETE. UNDER THI:: GRAND VALLEY SALltHTY CONTROL PROGRAM, WILL
RECLAMATION DECIDE WHAT ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO RE MADE? FOR
EXAMPLE, WILL EXISTING CONCRETE-LINED LATERALS BE PLACED IN PIPE?

Where laterals have already been lined or placed in pipe and are
effective in reducing seepage, new laterals would not be installed.
Where they are not effective in reducing seepage; for instance, where
concrete laterals have deteriorated, they would be replaced.

10. WHO WILL OWN THE IMPROVED LATERALS?

The irrigation company and districts will own the improved laterals.
but they will not have title to the land itself. However, an
easement will be required for construction and maintenance of the
improved laterals.

11. WILL THIS PROGRAM INTERFERE WITH IRRIGATION WATER DELIVERY?

'No. Irrigation water delivery will not be interfered with or
interrupted during construction activities. Lateral improvements
would be designed to provide water-carrying capacity historically
available or to carry optimum irrigation flows based upon the
irrigated acreage, whichever is greater. This would in turn permit
the irrigation company and districts to divert the same amount of
water after improvements have been made as was diverted in the past.

12. WILL I BE ASKED TO RELINQUISH MY WATER RIGHTS?

No, the status of water rights will not change.