I’m happy to report the Robert W. Walker Recharge Project initial phase is nearing completion. Central’s staff and Board had initially planned to have 50 cubic feet per second (CFS) of well pumping capacity operational, necessary pipelines installed and adequate recharge sites built. Early June of 2021 the runoff from the mountains provided the ability to divert water to the project. Central hired A&W Water Service to set up portable diesel pumps and we pumped about 250 acre-feet to a couple of ponds during the free river event. Since then, overhead power, testing the wells, flow meter testing and electrical connections have been performed. The wells are ready to operate. There are a few minor items yet to complete, mainly focused on the new shop at the entrance of the property which houses the 20,000-gallon surge tank. Central staff need to install the sight gage, pressure transducers, and get the air compressors installed and tested for the surge tank to be operational.
AB Underground from La Salle, CO completed the well manifold work at the river and completed the pipeline extension to the Wiggins recharge site. This site has two 10-acre recharge basins constructed by AB Underground, fed by a 30” pipeline extension at the terminus of the 54” steel pipeline laid by Concrete Express, Inc. The Town of Wiggins and Central negotiated an IGA in which Wiggins has access to a couple wells at the river and the pipeline. In turn Wiggins granted Central an easement for the newly constructed ponds. Wiggins has paid most of their costs for the infrastructure, remaining funds will be paid soon.
Another important partner in Central’s operations is the Orphan Wells of Wiggins (OWW). OWW has completed their work in conjunction with Central for their use of Walker Well “O”. OWW will pump Well O when in priority to supplement their existing well, which will maximize their current pipeline capacity. Another benefit of the Central-OWW relationship is the OWW wells will both be running on electrical power. OWW was previously powering the existing well with a diesel motor and gearhead.
Wildland Hydrology was hired by Central’s Board to perform much needed riverbank restoration and protection. Accelerated by the high river flows in 2013 and 2015, the South Platte River at our project location has widened two or three-fold and resultingly become a shallow, sandbar stream. Wildland and their contractor, Chaparral Construction from LaVeta, CO, have completed a good portion of the upper reach of the project area. This work will improve the health of the stream while adding project benefits by stabilizing the riverbank to protect Central’s wells and pipelines.
Unfortunately, the Walker project didn’t come online while we had free river in February-March of this year, but the good news is Central is ready to operate whenever that opportunity comes around again. I’m pleased with the work by our staff, primarily John Mark, who has taken this project to heart and continually shows us his dedication to the project.