Background information

ir

ioriti s (Direok Irrif:ation f- me $44 eq July liter than / All early or by le

ft4

-IbkrED Holm 'suFTLY. DITCH ANSERV0

-1.CKG ORMA,TION.

1

J1,as just one d+e,,' as a 1. T4re are onlx 2 major

e #56.

oritylwater carried by the Home ''+uppl ‘tas been transferred by court cont c, ct from other irrigation systeir and, with the exception of rly water yield fi l m 8 shares of Big Thompson Ditch and Mfg. Co. stock on which *frome upply pays an annual assessment; all of this transferred water belongs to in-'divid als and,r,r to the Town of Johnstown. Such water in its entirety totals the ;well nown 71 'U. ft0 per most of which is lost on or before July it noon of

each ear0 Th'7l cf.s0 of transferr-d water is drawn from priorities No.

nd 20. 4er July 14,," Home Supply is not entitled to any of this water except a poriion of isbl transferred priority and a small and fluctuating amount of later Wate4which isc rried for the Town of Johnstown.

December s 1959

T tdecree is #50 in priority, ees dnhe Big Thompson River that

11 transferre'd water is treated by the company as foreirm water, just as Colo. .project wfater is considered as foreign water. The same percentage carrying dqt 01 -As levied' by the Co. against all foreign water. The water yield from this_--) c.'aM4rXg 2 charge, Minus shrink, is run pro rata as a part of the annual issue to the benef t of all stockholders.

ow', to reu'rn to priority #50 mentioned in the first paragraph. Priority #50 calis fo'r a maximum of 278.84 c.f.s., but, to fully satisfy rriorities

41

through #49 the rivor must be flowing 1,h35 c.f.s.. It would thus appear that priority #50 would start to come in only after the Big Thompson surpassed 1,435 c.f.s.. Fortunately, however, priorities 1-49 seldom simultaneously demand all the water to which their combined decrees entitle them. Thus '50 will usually receive at least a portion of its Opereed water when the river is flowing 80C - 1200 cof.s..

I

-The difference reflects the varying seasonal demand fcr water.

During drought years, priority #50 never comes in at all during average years, ('ilt may come in partially for one or 2 weeks. During wet or flood years it may be

k

,fecti-cie for 2 - 4 _{weeks. Such seasons will occasionally yield water far beyond the}

1

)acitiOs ofAlll ditch companies combined to use directly or to store. Considerable od dalilage rilay'be the result. Certainly much valuable water will be wasted.

ReservOir Pri fities

Lone Tree _ _ _{_ - P-}

-Donath_{, #2}

Marano- 4/3-

-(3'eley - Loveland (combined) rldy Reservoirs (combined) 10others -- 9,000 .k.P. cap. - 1,200 .A.1-% - 5,000 A.F. - 69,000 A.F. - 7,600 A.F. -- 5,000 A.F. 97 000 A.F. approxo 'Refill • Refill Refill 951, 1957, 1959 and many

•

p.2 * Note

The

The average annual run-off from the Big Thompson river has been about 125,000 A.F.

75

to 80% of this flaw occurs during May, June, July and August of each year. Close to 50% of the years total will be recorded from May 20 to July 20 annually.

* * ** * * * * * * *

TREND TOWARD LATER DEMAND FOR WATER 1911

Water Available (Inches) Water Used (Inches) 380,000 (190 in0 per share)

83,000 (Direct flow) 40,000 (Transfer) 503,300 in. 420,000 (210 in. per sh.) 150,000 (trans.) 570,000 in. 680,000 (3)40 in0 per sh.) 80,000 (transfer) 760,000 i 580,000 (290 in. per sh.) 90,000 (transfer) 670p000 1,050,000 (525 in0 per sh.) 60,000 (transfer) 1,110,000 in. * * * * * 1925 * * * * * 1930

* * * * *

1933

May June July Aug. Sept.

--

189,550

- 93,715

- 62,185

-

76,505

- 74,425

496,380

in. May - - 113,410 June - 109,160 July - 118,700 Aug. - -

-

39,745

sept.- 76,300 June July -Aug.

-457,315 in.

213,50o

112,700

79,315

Season's Total 568,230 in.

June - 208,825 July - 176,195

Aug. _87,745

Season's Total 541,765 in.

1938 _{(Wettest year - 63 days free water)} June 181,000

July - - 132,000 Aug. - - 112,000 Season's Total 610,000 in.

01/4_

170,000 (85 in0 per sh.) 120,000 (transfer)

2909,000 in.

1940 (Driest year - no free water) _P.

₃

May - 639000 June - 91,000 July - - - 64,000 Aug. - - 559000 Sept. - 11,000 * * * * * 1950 6609000 (330 in. per sh.)

90,000 (transfer - ay. for last

6

yrs.) 71 9830 (pipeline - Colo 'Jig T.)

821 9830 in.

* * * * *

1954 )009000 (215 in per sh.)

90,000 (transfer - ay.

6

yrs) 1899000 (projerst)

700 9000 in.

284,000 in.

Season's Total 4519000 in.

Season's J:.otal 640,000 in.

* * * * *

1955

4009000

(200 in. per sh.) _{June - - 690885}

100,000 (transfer) _{July - 1W610} 1029000 (project) _{Aug. - - 123,730} Sept. _76,345 6029000 in. 500,000 (250 in. per sh.) 1209000 (transfer) 079000 (project) 7179000 in.

710,000 (355

in. per sh.) 309000 (transfer) 759000 (project) 8159000 in. * * * * *

1956

Season's Total 608,000 in May - _{- 709,495} June - - 181,810 July - - 144,190 Aug. - - 98,965 Sept. - 109,790 Oct. - - 47r330 Total 691 9 580 in.

* * * * *

1957

_{(Ran free water to July 8)}

June - - 168 9200 July - - 20,815 Aug. - - 103,665 Season's Total 675,000 in.

""-l' 58 560,000 (280 ino per sh.)

90,000 (transfer

6

yr. ay.) 125,000 (project)

775,000 in.

*

* *

1959

640,000 (320

in0 per ef,.)

90,000 (transfer-

6

yr ay.) 100,000 (project) 830,000 In0 P. L. June - 198,015 July - - 189,965 Aug. - - 180,570 Sept. - 115,220 Season's Total 729,000 in.

*

May - _{- 29,145} June - _{- 218,475} July - - 202,990 Aug. - 185,280 Sept.

_98,790

Oct. - -

10,385

Total 745,065

in.

* * * * *

HOff COLO. BIG To IS CHANGING THE PICTURE

1954, v55,

_{and '56 were years of extreme drought. All available water from}

all sources was used. Still more water was needed. Many lake beds dried up, and were rank with weeds and young cottonwood trees. Even the Project supplementary supply was practically exhausted. By late March,

1957,

the situation was even worse. Just when it seemed that the country was to revert

to

desert, an 18 inch wet snow started a wondrous change for the better. All reservoirs filled much water escaped downstream into the Platte. More storage capacity was needed.

Rainfall was most generous during the summer and fall of

'57.

Beet harvest conditions were almost as had as this fall. By November 1, storage water carry-over was so great that there was insufficient room in local reservoirs to store all of the unused project water which had been allotted to ditch systems under the Eig Thompson river. Even the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the North Colo. Water Conservancy Dist. began to wish that their lakes had more capacity. that if no one wanted any extra water in 1958? How would they operate their power plants?

Spring and summer of 1958 saw all reserviors practically full before the run-off came dawn the lhompson. The bulk of this water left the country causing con-siderable high water damage as it went. If this lost water could have been stored it would look mighty good come the next drought.

Fall of '58 however, saw the lakes pulled much lower than the year before. Still there was at least 10,000 A.F. project water to be stored under the 13ig Thompson. All lakes again filled before the call for direct irrigation came in

.1959.

Late spring of

'59

_{was fairly wet. The summer just passed was extremely dry.}

Demands for irrigation water were the heaviest in the history of the company. Perhaps another dry spell had started. Sept. 20 changed all this with a soaking rain. Sept. 28 changed it still more with a heavy, tree-shattering snow. Beet harvest was slaw, diffi-cult and very costly.

People lost all interest in irrigating. Much project water remained unused. The river jumped from a trickle to more than 100 c.f.s.” A good flow continued for 2 months. Results? Roth Home Supply reservoirs are already filled to desirable winter levels; so are the Handy lakes. Donath has all the Water it wants for now. Greeley-Loveland has been storing since Nov. 25, and will prob bly finish filling before the snow melt comes next June. Very likely, we will again be obliged to stand aside and watch our

P.5 •

water escape down the creek to be lost to this area forever.

It is evident that another and closer look might be taken at the entire storage picture.

Fact #ag Even with the vital help offered by the Colo° Big T. project, there is still insufficient water during a cycle of dry years.

Fact #2 An average project water carry-over in this district of roughly 15,000 A.F. during each of the past

3

seasons (57, '58, '59) has used up reservoir space that could have been filled from seasonal run-off.

(Estimated)

Fact 43, Perhaps 10,000 A.F.escaped this area in 19570 Maybe 50,000 A.F. got away in '58.

5,000 A.F. lost would be a conservative figure for

v59.

You guess what will, happen in '60. The loss will be between 5,000 A.F. and 50,000 A.F. (You can get good odds that the latter amount will be closer to correct when the next snow melt is history.)

Fact #L Peak demand for irrigation water now occurs 4-6 weeks later than it did 25 years ago. Proportionate crop acreages have changed. Then - 3/4 hay and grain; * row crops. Now _{hay and grain; 3/4 raw crops. Another} 25 years will see this spread still wider. All this places greater value on later (stored) water, less on early (direct flow) water.

Fact #5g Average water available under the Home 6upply 1948 - _{59 incl. was} 311 in., per share.

Average water 1936 - ,)47 incl. equalled 313 in. per share..

Last 40 years have averaged 310 in0 per share or about 111. A.F. per share —(1.125 A.F. per acre). Tftus, average available water, excluding project, has not changed in almost _{oentury, But, look at this average} water actually used on farms has increased _{50% during the past 25 years'.} Fact 46g Who will deny that water use, if available, won't increase another 50%

in the next 25 years? Where will this water come from?

Fact ligg _{At today's values, 20 shares Home Supply stock purchased on a 20 year}

loan basis @,5% int0 plus one years assessment would total about $22,760.00. 40 Years average water yield under Home Supply has been lq A.F. per share. 111 A. F. x 20 shares enuals 225 A.F.

122,760.00 -; 225 A. F. equals $101.15 per A.F.

Fact #8s Competent irrigation engineers have stated that storage can now be built for $100.00 per A. F. or less depending upon local conditions.

Fact #09 As large scale pumping operations continue to increase on the Platte there will be less and less water available for storage and direct irrigation on the tributaries, including the I3ig Thompson. This situation will be partic-ularly painful during drought years

Keep your eye on the proposal, now under study, to store surface water underground in areas so adapted. .

Fact -1O It is highly improbable that any More supplemental irrigation water will ever be brought to this particular area.

-••••••-•

p.6

Alai\

Fact JO°

Cont. Municipal and industrial demands for water is increasing at an alarming pace. The more water cities and factori s use the less there will be for agriculture.

Quite apparently the only chance of obtaining the additional water which this community will surely need and demand is to intelligently conserve and wisely use the water with which we are now blessed.

MAT RE THE PROSPECTS FOR FILLING THIS LAKE IF BUILT? Let's take a look at the past

6

years°

1954

- Lone Tree - 21 7/10 ft.

1955 -

Lone Tree - 22 ft. 1956 - Lone Tree - 23 ft. Mariano -17 ft. Mariano - 0 ft. Mariano - 11 ft.

1957 -

All reservoirs under I3ig Thompson filled. New lake would have filled also.

1958 - Over 7,000 A. F. project water carried over from

1957

in Home Supply reservoirs. New lake would have filled by. Nov. 1. Could have re-filled many times over the following May and June. (Almost 50,000 A. F. wasted down the river).

1959 -

New lake would have half-filled by Nov. 1 with carry over project water. Chances of completing fill during 1960 run-off practically 100%.

During the past

6

years, which have included

3

poor water years and

3

good water years, the Home Supply has carried over to the next season a total of

approx-imately 14n400 A.F. project water, or an average of 2,400 An F. per year. In addition, 800 A. F. of Louden project water „project water was stored by home °upply in 1958. Louden simply didn't want it. 411 this totals 15,200 A. F. for the past

6

years combined;- enough to fill Lone Tree plus Mariano and have 1,200 A. F. to dump in the new lake.

TOTAL OUTSIDE WATER RENTED IN PAST

5

YEARS By Home Supply Co. * A. F. Cost

1955

904

$2,562.00

1956

1933

6,914.85

1957

830

2,075.00

1958

1438

2,157.00

1959

₁₅₉₄

2,988.55

Total 6699 A.F. $16,69740 By H. S. Stockholders: (as individuals)

1955

₁₆₄₅

$4,688.25

1956

1101

3941.58

1957

188

470.00

1958

401

601.50

1959

485

909.37

Total 3820 A. F. $10,610.70 Grand total bought by Co. and Individuals

(144,637 in.) 10,519 A. F.

$27,308.10

5

year average price paid per 100 in. $18.88 * Carrying charge in water deducted from A.F. bought.

7

I

-P.7

•

In additions

43,01-5 inches were rented by users from other users within the Home Supply system during

1959

season. If you wish to use this as an average annual rental

43,015 in.

x 5

years equals 215. 075 in.

215,075 in. x $20.00 per 100 in. equals $43,015.00 Therefore

5 year total extra water from all sources

(does not include regular project allotments) 359.712 inches - cost $70,323.10

Average per year (1955 -

759

incl.): 71,942 inches - C 4 14,004.62

This grand total amounts to slightly more than

35

inches per share and cost an average of $19.55 per 100 inches.

Maximum storage plan for the proposed reservoir would impound about 160,000 inches water (80 in0 per share). $29,000 ay. payment (see following) would make water cost $18.125 per 100 inches.

By comparison:

1957

project water (60% allot.) cost $18.18 per 100 inches. 1958 project water (100% allot.) cost $10.91 per 100 inches.

1959 project water (80%

allot.) _{cost $13.64 per 100 inches.}

PRELIMINARY SURVEYS AND ESTIMATES ON THE PROPOSED RESERVOIR Minimum Plan _{Maximum plan}

Surface acreage 159 A. 205 A„

Capacity _{4100 A. F. (55 in0 per sh.) 5850 A. F. (80 in0 per sh.)}

Maximum Depth 50 ft. 56 ft.

Size of Dam 575,000 cu yds. 750,000 cu. yds.

(1)44cu0 yds per A. F. storage) (1284 cuo yds per A.F.) 56 ft0 max. height 62 ft0 max. height 3,600 ft0 crest length

5

200 ft0 crest length Estimated cost- (based on 3Cy to 50 per cu0 yd. moved)

$230,000.00 for dam $300,000.00

Ave. costs

$25,000.00 - R.O.W. for $25,000.00 reservoir & outlet

$40,000.00 - outlet ditch 140000.00 lined or piped 120,000.00 - Spillway gates $20,000.00 and structures $160,000.00 - financing $195,000.00 20 yrs C 5% 475,000.00 Total $580000.00 124,000.00 ($12.00 per sh.) $29000.00 ($14.50 per sh.) ( 1.20 per A.) ( 1.45 per A.) Maximum plan would cost an estimated $100.0 per A. F. for total construction or

118.125 per 100 inches annually for

the

20. year repayment period. **********