This week's headlines
The irrigators' Conservation Committee that is planning to apply for grant funding to pipe irrigation ditches in Surface Creek Valley has distributed a question and answer sheet covering discussions with the project contractor, Harward Irrigation Systems of Springville, Utah. Below are some of the items from that dialogue.
Question: What is Harward's plan to prevent financial risk?
Answer: Harward has never run over cost on a project. On one project, they ordered 400 truckloads of pipe to protect cost of the project. They build 15 to 20 percent contingency and work within the Bureau of Reclamation guidelines to accomplish this.
Q: How does Harward estimate costs for the environmental requirements of the project?
A: Harward generally use the bureau's 5 percent guideline and also works with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Q: The bureau mentions "in kind" opportunities. What are those and how do they work?
A: There would be opportunities for (the ditch companies) to do some installation or some other things on the project which would lower costs.
Q: How does Harward manage and man current projects?
A: Someone from Harward becomes the single project manager.
Q: Will Harward use local labor and equipment?
A: Harward will work with local companies on the bids. Contractors will have to be fully vetted, bonded, and insured — a bureau requirement.
Q: What happens with the bureau requirement that existing ditches be filled in when they are still needed here for tail water?
A: That is okay for drainage, but it counts against the project on the salt load removal calculation.
Q: How does Harward provide for stock water if necessary?
A: Take-outs for stock watering are doable if Harward is obligated to do them. However, the take-outs are costly and could hurt the project. Anyone affected should contact OCID.
Q: What happens to cultural resources and who is responsible?
A: This (cultural resources survey) is done after design and approval. A Montrose contractor has been used in the past.
Q: How does Harward make sure it is covering costs for "very rocky ground?"
A: It will be built into the costs. Local excavators are being consulted. Pipe will have to be bedded.
Q: What other funding is available, how do we get it, and how does Harward estimate for it on the application?
A: Some $50,000 to $300,000 might be available from (state agencies) as augmentation money to help buy down the project. There might also be money available related to water conservation through the Gunnison Basin Roundtable.
Q: How does Harward determine indirect cost for things like administration, electricity, rent, etc.?
A: Part paid by Harward and part by OCID. Responsibility for items will be determined after any grant is awarded.
Q: What is Harward's guesstimate of the total cost of all four projects?
A: Harward now has a "guesstimate" on this number, but it is not willing to share it because it could affect how other ditch companies finish their grant applications. If anyone asks this question, tell them Harward is looking at $25 million to $30 million.
Q: What will be the alternate delivery system throughout the project?
A: Under discussion.
blog comments powered by Disqus