Left Hand Ditch Company
P.O. Box 229, Niwot, CO. 80544 (Office: 303-652-9965)
Basic Ditch Company Information
Last update: 4/2/2015
Terms & General Information:
A. CFS = Cubic feet per second (Measures moving water)
B. AF = Acre Feet (Measures standing water)
C. 1 CFS = 1.983 AF
D. LHDC has 16,800 Shares of Stock
E. We have 5 reservoirs/Lakes totaling 4,831 AF of water
F. LHDC Yield is determined on November 1st. based on what actually came down the mountain.
G. LHDC is only responsible to put the water into the ditch. Once the water passes the Parshall Flume we lose ALL responsibility and authority. You must talk with your ditch rider or the other irrigators for any problems.
1. Storage Limits:
· The Storage Limit is the amount of water you can store in the reservoirs, based on the number of shares you own.
Calculation: To figure your storage limit:
1) Take the total amount of storage water we have
2) Divide by 16,800 shares = _________
3) _______ X the number of shares you own = your storage limit.
Note: The computer figures all of this for you.
While on “Charge water” active shareholders (i.e. those who have previously ordered LH water during this irrigation season) will receive a daily CF issue until they reach their storage limit.
While on “Free water” all shareholder’s LH balances are at 100% of their storage limit, so no one receives a daily CF issue.
When the system goes from “Charge water” to “Free water” all share holder balances are instantly adjusted to 100% of their storage limit.
Balances below 100% are adjusted up, balances above 100% are adjusted down.
When the system goes from “Free water” to “Charge water”, any previously active accounts will begin receiving a daily CF issue (up to 110%) even if they are not currently ordering water.
2. Creek Flow Issue:
· The creek flow issue is calculated on a daily basis. That creek flow is divided by 16,800 shares.
Example: If we have 5 CFS coming down the canyon divided by 16,800 shares, the creek flow issues would be - .0002 CFS per share.
If you own 10 shares then your account will be credited .002 CFS. (.0002 X 10 = .002 CFS). (This would change if less than 16,800 shares are active.)
Note: Any upper storage being used is deducted from the creek flow to give you an actual creek flow number. For example, if the creek flow is 5 CFS and I have 10 CFS coming out of Gold Lake, the creek flow is only 5 CFS.
Notes: The theoretical CF issue is CF/16,800. The actual CF issue that active account holders receive is CF/ # Active Shares (up to their storage limit).
Since inactive shareholders don’t receive an issue, their portion is divided amongst the active accounts.
3. Three AF Charge: (This routine is currently shut off (2009)
· You are allowed to run 3 AF per one share of water that you own/rent without an additional charge. However, if you exceed that amount a charge will be added to your account.
Example: If you own one share of Left Hand Stock, and it yields 1 AF, yet you run 5 AF, you will incur a charge for the 2 additional feet you used.
Notes: The credit is currently calculated as 3 AF per 1 LH share, regardless of the yield.
Also, when shares are transferred the credit they represent is transferred with them.
4. Interest on Assessments Overdue:
· If you have overdue assessments on June 1st there is a 1% interest charge per month that will automatically be added to the balance due.
5. Free, Charge & Direct Run Water:
· We have three sources of water in which to fill your order and they are as follows:
a. “Free Water”: The criterion for receiving free water is as follows:
(1) There must be more water in the creek than is required.
(2) The reservoirs must be full. (This is a bit subjective).
b. “Charge Water”: We automatically go on charge water when the criterion for free water is not met.
c. “Direct Run”: Direct run is a source of water that will be used when there is a “Call on the River”, indicating we cannot store water, yet we have it in the creek and we can use it as long as we don’t store it.
The criterion is as follows:
(1.) There must be a “Call on the River”.
(2.) There must be more water in the creek than is required.
Notes: Direct Run is a sudden, short lived excess of CF (i.e. more creek flow than is currently ordered). This excess is divided up proportionately amongst shareholders currently ordering water and is not charged against their balances though it is included in the 3 AF over run calculation.
Note: Direct Run is under the management of Superintendent.
6. Re-allocation of inactive shares
If you do NOT begin using your water before August 1st then 80% of your water will be re-allocated to active shareholders.
This means that 80% of your water will be taken out of your account and divided out between the active users.
The board assumes if you have NOT used any water prior to Aug 1st then you won’t be using it this season and therefore it is re-allocated to the active users.
7. Ordering Procedures:
· You must place your order online or by phone no later than 1:30 PM the day before you want the water delivered.
Example: If you want 3 CFS put in your ditch on Wednesday the 15th you must have the order into the office by Tuesday the 14th at 1:30 PM.
Note: Please do not call my cell phone to place an order. Put your in over the computer or Call the office phone (303-652-9965) and leave the order on the answering machine if no one answers the phone. This will help ensure that an order is not forgotten/lost if I am out in the field.
Note: If you own CBT, as well as Left Hand water, the computer is set up to pull from your LH account first. When the LH account is empty it will pull from your CBT Account.
8. Meet by Appointment:
· Please call and set an appointment prior to coming into the office whenever possible. If you come in without an appointment, you will probably find that I am out in the field.
9. Monthly Board Meetings:
· If you are planning on coming to the monthly board meeting, please call and let me know so I can place you on the agenda and prepare to address your needs.
10. Delivery Problems:
· If you are supposed to get water and it does not show up please do the following:
a. If you have a Ditch Rider on your specific ditch, such as the Holland or the Table Mountain, call him/her first.
b. Check to make sure no one above you has left a head gate open or has a gate miss-set allowing them to take too much water.
c. Check the main head gate into the ditch to ensure it is not clogged with trash.
d. Call Terry (Ditch Rider) and inform him of the situation (720-629-0232).