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Monday, 25 May 2009 |
Greeley Canal No. 3
The Greeley Irrigation Company and the Greeley Canal No. 3 have operated for more than 136 years for the benefit of the GIC shareholders. The canal was originally constructed in 1870 by the Union Colony to divert water from the Cache La Poudre River to beneficial use on the lands around the present-day City of Greeley. Enlargements of the canal with associated additional appropriations of water were made in the period from 1871 to 1873. In 1875, the Union Colony deeded an undivided 3/8ths interest in the canal to the then Town of Greeley and the canal was then owned in joint tenancy by the Union Colony and the Town. On July 15, 1882, the Greeley Irrigation Company was incorporated and on August 3, 1882, the Union Colony quit-claimed its remaining 5/8ths interest in the Greeley Canal No. 3 to the Greeley Irrigation Company. This joint ownership of Greeley Canal No. 3 remains in effect to the present time.
Generally, the canal serves irrigated lands within the City of Greeley and east of the City of Greeley. The canal terminates east of the City of Greeley approximately 12 miles downstream of the river diversion. There are currently 149 shareholders holding 520 shares utilizing water rights up to 193 cubic fee per second (CFS). Historic diversions average approximately 18,600 acre-feet (AF) annually.
In 2006, the Company applied for and was granted a loan from Colorado Water Conservation Board that is being used to implement phased improvements on the canal. The diversion structure at the river is a key improvement identified in the loan application. The Company has also received a Conservation Innovation Grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service that defers some of the costs of canal automation.
The new river diversion consists of two primary radial gates and a slide gate, which is used to sluice sediments that accumulate in front of the radial gates. The gates are controlled by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) electronics that can be operated from the Company’s office or the City of Greeley Water Dept. A water surface level sensor is located at the State of Colorado gaging station which is downstream from the river diversion and flows can be monitored and recorded.
Facts about the completed river diversion structure:
• Budgeted at $499,000 and ultimately cost approximately $508,900 to build.
• Utilizes 290 cubic yards of reinforced concrete, steel radial gates, and a steel slide gate.
• Remotely actuated by SCADA electronics integrated with other sites on the canal.
• Normally diverts approximately 70 to 90 CFS during the irrigation season.
• Water is used for farm irrigation, park irrigation, and well augmentation.
The facility was designed by Aqua Engineering, Inc. of Fort Collins. A DARCA member, Aqua Engineering has been a strong and steady supporter of DARCA over the years.
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