Price / Stub Pump House
As the Government Highline Canal exits Tunnel Number 3, water for the Price and Stub ditches is diverted through a 6 ft wide rectangular screened headgate and into a penstock that transports water to the Price/Stub pump house. The pump house was built in 1919 by the Reclamation Service (later becoming the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) as part of the agreement that allows the Grand Valley Project to use MCID and PID water rights. The Grand Valley Water Users Association operates and maintains the pump house as part of the same agreement.
The penstock splits at the pump house with a portion flowing into a pump and the remainder flowing through a turbine that turns the pump.
Water discharging through the pump (about 15 cfs) flows up to the Stub Ditch pipeline and serves Mesa County Irrigation District. In addition, about 2 – 4 cfs is also pumped to the “Reverse Stub” which is a partially improved open ditch (includes some underground piping) flowing back to the east. The remainder of the water, up to a maximum of 70 cfs flows into the Price Ditch and serves the majority of the Palisade Irrigation District.
Figure Discharge Pipe from Price/Stub Pump House to Stub Ditch
All historical photos provided courtesy of Palisade Historical Society
This is the Price / Stub diversion circa 1950s. It has been rebuilt by the Bureau of Reclamation to allow fish to navigate around the left side. (River left)
This is the outlet of Tunnel No. 3 where much of the water for the Palisade Irrigation District diverts from the Government Highline Canal.
The original Price /Stub pumping plant was located on the right side of the Colorado River just downstream of where I-70 crosses the river going into DeBeque Canyon. Circa 1914
The Stub Pump is powered by water flowing into the Price Ditch and pumps water to the Stub Ditch. It was installed in 1915 and has since been rebuilt. Much of the original equipment is still in use today.
Original Price/Stub pumping plant located on the right side of the Colorado River just south of where present day I-70 crosses the Colorado River east of Palisade, Colorado. Circa 1914.