HomeMy WebLinkAbout22_WATER_RIGHTS_&_IRRIGATION22.1Water Rights & Irrigation
water rights & irrigation
section
22
22.2 Bar Slash X Ranch LLC - Annexation and Stage Road PUD/Subdivision: Final Submission
Water Rights
There are significant historic, senior water rights
appurtenant to the property. These water rights
provide the irrigation for the agricultural production
on the property. The water rights (all decreed abso-
lute in Division 5, Colorado) that provide irrigation
water are shown opposite.
In addition, the water rights are delivered through
the Herrick Ditch and Willow Creek Ditch, which
structure diverts water from Maroon Creek, high
above the property location. The ditch is oper-
ated by the Willow Creek Ditch and Herrick Ditch
Company; incorporated as a Colorado Mutual Ditch
Company on June 7, 2002. The -/X Ranch, LLC is
a member of the Ditch Company. The water rights
owned by the Bar/X Ranch, LLC are diverted at the
headgate and delivered to the property, in addition
to other water rights flowing in the ditch during
times when other owners are not using them.
Irrigation
Delivery of irrigation water changed drastically
after the golf course that borders the western
side of the pasture was constructed. Prior to
that time, irrigation water flowed through a ditch
to the South Pasture, then to the other pastures.
Now, water is delivered from seven outlets in a
pipe along the western side of the South Pasture;
however, the location of the outlets coupled with
the uneven ground in the pasture mean that much
of the pasture is not well irrigated. The supply of
irrigation water from this system is very reliable,
and was available through the summer of 2003
in its customary amount, in spite of the severe
regional drought.
The Applicant has designed a large storage pond
(see Section 20, Drawings C-1, C-2 and C-3,
marked as “Lifton Pond”) capable of storing 6.82
acre-feet of water. This pond will have several
functions, that, taken together, will greatly improve
irrigation of the property.
These are:
The elevated pond surface will allow water to
be diverted to the south end of the East Meadow
from where it can irrigate the entire East Meadow
and supply irrigation water to Lot 7 through 12.
Currently, water to supply this area has to cross
the South Meadow, the ranch house area, corrals
and barnyard.
The pond will buffer the unpredictable changes
in flow from the Willow Creek Ditch, thereby greatly
reducing the erosion being caused to the south
slope of the Roaring Fork Canyon by abrupt surges
in flow. These flow changes stem both from precipi-
tation and from alterations in the amount of water
being taken by up-ditch users.
The pond storage will help even up the flow of
irrigation water to the different parts of the property,
resulting in better overall irrigation.
Additionally, the pond, being close to the perimeter
of the affordable housing village, will be a scenic
amenity to the inhabitants of the village.
The Applicant is preparing an Augmentation Plan
for submission to the Division 5 Water District that
will provide the legal basis for all changes of use
in water on the Bar/X Ranch property. The great
majority of the water rights will, however, continue
to be used to irrigate the ranch meadows and to
water livestock.
The plansheet (page 22.5) shows the entire future
ranch irrigation system, as currently envisaged.
22.3Water Rights & Irrigation
Willow Creek Ditch
Decreed Water Right Priority
No.
Total
Amount
Decreed
Adjudication
Date
Appropriation
Date
Case No. -/X Ranch,
LLC
Ownership1
Willow Creek Ditch 129 3.0 cfs May 11, 1889 July 1, 1885 C.A. 132 0.75 cfs
Willow Creek Ditch,
First Enlargement
174 3.0 cfs May 11, 1889 May 1, 1887 C.A. 132 0.75 cfs
Willow Creek Ditch,
Second Enlargement
209 30.0 cfs June 23, 1892 April 15, 1891 C.A. 4912 7.5 cfs
Subtotal all Willow
Creek Ditch Priorities
9.0 cfs
Less 1987
Conveyance to City of
Aspen3
<1.5 cfs>
Total Willow Creek
Ditch ownership
7.5 cfs
Herrick Ditch
Decreed Water Right Priority
No.
Total
Amount
Decreed
Adjudication
Date
Appropriation
Date
Case No. -/X Ranch,
LLC
Ownership4
Herrick Ditch 440 9.3 cfs February 5,
1940
October 1,
1890
C.A.
3330
0.0 cfs
Herrick Ditch, First
Enlargement
683 51.56 cfs June 20, 1958 August 1, 1951 C.A.
4613
6.65 cfs
Less 1987
Conveyance to City of
Aspen5
<1.28 cfs>
Total Herrick Ditch
ownership
5.37 cfs
1 The below amounts reflect the amounts owned by the -/X Ranch, LLC, as of November 2003.
These rights will be decreased by those amounts (0.35 cfs of the LLC’s rights for the domestic
portion, and up to .9 cfs for the raw water irrigation) under contract to be conveyed to the City of
Aspen upon final plat for the -/X Ranch, LLC development project. In addition, the Water Service
Agreement between the -/X Ranch, LLC and the City of Aspen contains a provision that
recognizes that the rate of diversion at the -/X Ranch, LLC property boundary will not exceed 5.0
cfs.
2 The Willow Creek Ditch, Second Enlargement was initially decreed conditional in C.A. 491, and
then decreed absolute for 30.0 cfs in Case No. W-122 on June 22, 1971.
3 See Special Warranty Deed executed on August 10, 1987, recorded at Book 543, Page 406,
Pitkin Co. Clerk and Recorder conveying 45.48 acres; and Special Warranty Deed executed on
August 10, 1987, recorded at Book 543, Page 411, Pitkin Co. Clerk and Recorder conveying 1.5
cfs of Willow Creek Ditch rights (unspecified priority), and 1.28 cfs of the Herrick Ditch, Pr. 683;
both conveyances from the Zoline Foundation to the City of Aspen.
4 The below amounts reflect the amounts owned by the -/X Ranch, LLC, as of November 2003.
These rights will be decreased by those amounts (0.35 cfs of the LLC’s rights for the domestic
portion, and up to .9 cfs for the raw water irrigation) under contract to be conveyed to the City of
Aspen upon final plat for the -/X Ranch, LLC development project.
5 See note 3.
22.4 Bar Slash X Ranch LLC - Annexation and Stage Road PUD/Subdivision: Final Submission
This page intentionally left blank