County secures $1.78M state grant for Orchard Mesa bike, pedestrian and water infrastructure project

Today, Mesa County Commissioners voted unanimously to ratify Commissioner JJ Fletcher’s signature on a $1,786,736 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to support the Orchard Mesa Check Piping and 38 Road Bike and Pedestrian Project.

The multi-benefit infrastructure project serves the Town of Palisade and East Orchard Mesa by modernizing agricultural water infrastructure while expanding safe transportation options for cyclists and pedestrians. The project will install twin 96-inch pipes within the Orchard Mesa Check to replace an existing open channel, improving hydraulic efficiency for the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District and reducing water loss to support downstream users along the Colorado River.

Piping the channel will also allow Mesa County to construct a shared-use bike and pedestrian path directly above the infrastructure along 38 Road, providing a separated, safer route for non-motorized travel. The project improves connectivity along the Bike and Wine Byway and enhances safety on a narrow corridor that experiences increased traffic during community events, festivals, and harvest season.

The Colorado Water Plan Grant covers up to 50% of the project cost and requires a local match of $1,786,736 from Mesa County. Combined with a previously awarded Transportation Alternatives Program grant, total grant funding for the project exceeds $3.6 million. The overall project cost is currently estimated at approximately $6 million.

County officials emphasized the project’s dual purpose and collaborative approach, noting that Mesa County does not own the irrigation infrastructure but is working with the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District through an easement arrangement to achieve shared water-efficiency and transportation-safety goals.

Construction timelines and additional project details will be shared as the project moves forward.