The meeting was called to order by President, Andy Wick. It was held in the conference room of the town hall of Orchard City, Colorado commencing at 5:30 P.M. Present at the meeting was Andy Wick, Jeff Wick, Dick Kirkpatrick and Gregg Helmsing.
In the absence of board secretary, Joe Young, Gregg Helmsing read the minutes of the previous board meeting held on April 12, 2021 at the Town Park, Town of Orchard City. Without corrections or additions, the minutes were approved as read. In the absence of Mr. Young, Mr. Wick asked Helmsing to take minutes of the current meeting.
First order of business was a presentation by Jeff Widener, Water Superintendent of the Orchard City Irrigation District. Mr. Widener reported that the present level of the Fruitgrower's Reservoir stood at approximately 1750 acre feet. This was the about the same level as was reported to the board during its meeting of April 12, 2021. Mr. Widener further advised that the decrees for both the Fogg and Butte ditches had been running intermittently for a few days.
The next order of business was a presentation by Mr. Ron Phillips who has been a water consultant for several years for the Grand Mesa Water User's Association. Further, Mr. Phillips is the key developer of computer programs used by both Grand Mesa Water User's Association to take, track and maintain water ordering records for both entities. At the request of Orchard City Irrigation District, Mr. Phillips has developed a computer model to be used as a tool to assist Orchard City Irrigation District in determining initial allocation and adjust allocations as the irrigation season continues.
Mr. Phillips proceed to explain that his computer model starts with data as to the water level of the reservoir in terms of acre feet. From that volume, the model reduces that level by the volume needed to fill OCID's contractual obligations and loss of water through evaporation and delivery of water from the reservoir through transmission ditches (Butte, Fogg and Circle). In this case, Mr. Phillips relied on water evaporation records from the State Water Engineer. For transmission losses in the delivery of water, Mr. Phillips relied on an estimated 50% transmission loss provided by Jeff Widener, Water Superintendent. Based upon the data and "best estimates". Mr. Phillips recommended a water allocation level of 10%.
Mr. Phillips proceeded to explain that he and the Water Superintendent, Jeff Widener had earlier in the day discussed a possible plan to distribute water from the reservoir that would reduce evaporation loss and water transmission loss by not holding large quantities of water in the reservoir during the hot summer months and sending large volumes of water down transmission ditches. To do so, the Water Superintendent, proposed a distribution system that essentially lowered the reservoir level as quickly as possible; sending the water on an alternating basis down the two main distribution ditches, Butte Ditch and Fogg Ditch. Based upon Mr. Phillips model, water could be sent down the ditches on the East side of the system on one week and then down the ditches on the West side of the system on the next week. This delivery schedule could then be repeated one more time; at the end of which (in late May) the water level in the reservoir would be reduced significantly but with enough water remaining to fulfill OCID's contractual water obligations through July 15, 2021. OCID would not guarantee any contract water after July 15, 2021. Mr. Phillips emphasized that his model and the distribution plan were conservative and subject to modifications due to weather conditions.
Following, Mr. Phillips presentation, President Wick opened the meeting to questions from all attending OCID members. A question and answer period followed ranging from questions regarding assumptions used in calculations to the proposed schedule for water delivery to making water orders by telephone call or email.
Following the presentation, Jeff Wick made a motion to set the reservoir allocation at 10% to be delivered on a water delivery schedule as follows:
East Ditch System Water Order commencing on May 4, 2021 for delivery during the rest of that week May 7, 2021 and again on May 14 for delivery during the week of May 17, 2021.
West Ditch System - Water Order commencing on May 7, 2021 for delivery during the week of May 10, 2021 and again on May 214, 2021 for delivery during the week of May 24, 2021.
The motion was seconded by Gregg Helmsing. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
President Wick thereafter advised that the board would be meeting frequently to review reservoir levels and consider modifications to the reservoir allocation.
There being no further business, upon motion by Jeff Wick, second by Gregg Helmsing and by unanimous vote the meeting was adjourned.