The Fruitgrowers Dam is located on Alfalfa Run, three miles north of Austin, Colorado. The original dam was constructed in 1898 and was raised at least twice, the last time in 1936. The Fruitgrowers' Ditch and Reservoir Company, a Colorado corporation, owned and operated the reservoir and ditch system. The dam was breached June 13, 1937, to avoid a threatened failure. Excessive damage resulted in Austin from the heavy storage release, as the breach widened and deepened rapidly. Immediate reconstruction is necessary to avert heavy losses to the irrigators who have depended on the reservoir for water supply, as precipitation is too low for crop growth. WATER SUPPLY A small part of the stored waters is obtained from Surface Creek through the Alfalfa and Forrest ditches, and from local storm runoff and return flow waters draining from higher irrigated lands. Most of the water, especially in the drier years, is obtained from Current Creek by a ditch two miles long which has a capacity of about 100 second-feet. Based on past operations, the reservoir is expected to fill every year, providing ample water supply for all the irrigated lands of the project. ENGINEERING FEATURES AND CONSTRUCTION COST The dam which failed was 45 feet in height and 700 feet in length along the crest. The proposed dam is an earth and rock filled structure, 53 feet in height with a crest length of 1,500 feet and an embankment volume of 160,000 cubic yards. The dam will be located immediately downstream from the earlier structure, and a portion of the old dam will be used as the upstream toe of the new structure. The water surface of the reservoir will be raised two feet, increasing its storage capacity from 3330 acrefeet to 4100 acre-feet. The estimated cost, including engineering, overhead and contingencies, is $200,000. LAND PRICES AND ADAPTABILITY OF LAND TO SETTLEMENT AND FARM HOMES The land area in the project covered by ditches from the Fruitgrowers Reservoir amounts to 3500 acres, of which 2050 acres were recently irrigated. The non-irrigated area is largely unfit for irrigation. The most important crops are peaches and small fruits. Alfalfa, sugar beets and general crops also are grown. There are many fine rural homes which have a domestic water supply and all modern conveniences. Lands are assessed at an average value of $90 per acre, and the average value of improvements is about $7500 per farm. PROBABLE RETURN TO RECLAMATION FUND OF The payment of construction costs will be derived from the sale of water for irrigation purposes. Based on a cost of $200,000, and repayment according to terms of the Reclamation law in 40 years without interest, the annual charge will be $5,000. Operation and maintenance of the reservoir feeder canal, the reservoir and the distribution system, and the costs accruing from administration, accounting and legal matters may total $5,000 per year. If the present area of 2050 acres is continued, annual costs will be $5 per acre per year. A repayment contract will be executed before any waters are delivered, but it is desirable to commence construction of the dam without delay, and complete negotiations of contracts during the period of construction. The Fruitgrowers Ditch and Reservoir Company is in debt for at least $16,000, and damage suits are threatened on account of the failure of the dam. The financial condition of the irrigators is not clear, and it may be necessary to graduate the construction charge installments so that the payments will be small during the early years. The lands are now actually settled and utilized for farm homes. They are well-improved and in full production. It is believed the water users can easily meet an eventual average annual charge of $5 per acre, per annum, and probably an average charge as high as $10 per acre could be paid in later years. It is, therefore, believed that the repayment of construction charges is well within the ability of the water users and that the cost of construction will be returned. FINDINGS REGARDING FEASIBILITY OF PROJECT The foregoing data justify the conclusions that the project is feasible from an engineering and economic standpoint, and I accordingly so find and declare. An allocation of $200,000 from emergency funds was made on October 7, 1937, to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, for the construction of the Fruitgrowers Reservoir. In order to complete the dam in time to store water for the season of 1938, and to prevent severe loss from the death of fruit trees, grape vines, and other perennial crops, I recommend that the construction of the dam be started at the earliest possible date. Sincerely yours, (Signed) OSCAR L. CHAPMAN, Acting Secretary of the Interior. Approved January 11, 1938. BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, January 13, 1938. The Honorable the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: There is transmitted herewith the letter of Acting Secretary Chapman to the President of January 5, 1938, with reférence to the Fruitgrowers Dam near Austin, Colorado, which was approved by the President on January 11, 1938. Very truly yours, (Signed) D. W. BELL, Acting Director. GARDEN CITY PROJECT KANSAS The Garden City project was authorized for construction by the Secretary under the Reclamation Act of 1902 on October 5, 1905. It was examined and reported upon by a Board of Army Engineers in accordance with the act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 835), and approved by the President on January 5, 1911. The project was unsuccessful and the act of June 5, 1920 (41 Stat. 1054), cancelled the contracts between the Secretary and the water users' organization and individual landowners affecting lands in the Garden City project and released and discharged the liens upon the lands created by such contracts. CHIEF ENGINEER, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, RECLAMATION SERVICE, Garden City, Kans., Sept. 5, 1905. U. S. Geological Survey, Reclamation Service, SIR: The Board of Engineers designated to consider the Garden City Project, Kansas, reports as follows: The irrigation system proposed will depend upon the underground waters pumped from a series of wells in the coarse gravels in the bottoms of the Arkansas River valley, about twelve miles west of Garden City. This water is to be carried to the Farmers Ditch and thence distributed to 8,600 acres of first class land lying under the existing ditch system. The underground water supply has been explored under the direction of Mr. C. S. Slichter, and from his examinations, it appears that it is derived from the rain falling on the sandy porous soil, and from the seepage from the Arkansas River during periods of high water. This underground supply will be ample for 8,600 acres with two acre-feet per annum, and the indications are that a larger area can eventually be served. The land in question is all in private ownership, and the existing irrigation system is owned by the Finney County Farmers Irrigation Association. The attempt to furnish water for the irrigation of these lands by a gravity system supplied by diversion from the river has proved a failure. The estimated cost of the pumping plant, as outlined in the accompanying detailed statement is $258,000, or $30 per acre for 8600 acres. The annual charge for maintaining the plant in serviceable condition is estimated at 75 cents per acre. The annual cost for pumping and distribution is estimated at 77 cents per acre foot or $1.45 per acre at the rate of two acre feet per annum, which is regarded as sufficient for attaining the best results. These estimates are conservative and will probably cover all contingencies for increasing or extending the plant which may be necessary to furnish sufficient water supply. From these estimates it appears that the maximum annual expense until the charges under the reclamation act have been fully paid will be $5.20 per acre per annum, which will be diminished at the rate of 77 cents per acre-foot, if less than two acre feet of water are used. In the opinion of this board the land in question will sustain such a charge. The residents of this section will be ready to subscribe for water at this rate and have expressed their willingness to comply with all the requirements of the reclamation act. The Finney County Farmers Irrigation Association proposes to transfer its irrigation system to the water users association now in process of formation, and at a recent meeting, informal pledges of subscription to the stock of the Water Users Association were given for practically the total of 8,600 acres entitled to water from the system. In pursuance of these considerations the board recommends: 1. That the project be constructed as soon as the water users association has been organized in satisfactory form and practically the entire area of 8,600 acres under the Farmers Ditch System has been subscribed to the Water Users Association. 2. That the preparation of plans and specifications for construction be undertaken at once, so that there shall be no delay in beginning construction after the organization of the Water Users Association has proceeded to the proper stage. Respectfully, (Signed) MORRIS BIEN, Supervising Engineer. Elec. and Mech. Expert. Cons. Engr. and Elec. Expert. Consulting Engineer. W. H. SANDERS, Consulting Engineer. |