Laserfiche WebLink
PHYSICAL INFORMATION <br />Michigan Ditch originates in Water Division 6 District 47 in Jackson County and terminates in <br />Water Division 1 District 3 in Larimer County. <br />According to a statement made by the original claimants in 1906, work commenced on Michigan <br />Ditch in 1902 and water was first run in 1904. The ditch was historically used to provide <br />irrigation water to irrigators in the Cache la Poudre basin. The City of Fort Collins acquired <br />Michigan Ditch from the North Poudre Irrigation Company through a trade in 1971. In exchange <br />for waters from four smaller ditches (Arthur Ditch, New Mercer Ditch, Josh Ames Ditch, and the <br />Larimer County No. 2 Ditch), the City of Fort Collins acquired Michigan Ditch and the Joe <br />Wright Reservoir. <br />Length: 5.2 miles. <br />Capacity: At least 88.0 cfs (88.0 cfs was the maximum daily diversion recorded on July 11, <br />1995) <br />Diversion Measurement Device: <br />DWR WDID: 4704603 <br />USGS ID: 06746000 -Michigan Ditch at Cameron Pass, CO <br />Datum: 10,260 feet above sea level NGVD29 <br />Ditch Outlet: 8 foot concrete Parshall flume equipped with a continuously monitored <br />recorder and a satellite linked monitoring system. <br />Conveyance Efficiency: In 1977, Fort Collins began rehabilitation of Michigan Ditch. Prior to <br />rehabilitation, the ditch was mostly earth-lined. Between 1954 and 1986, the ditch was <br />not fully utilized because of disrepair or work being performed on the ditch. Today, <br />almost half of the ditch is piped. <br />HydroBase Data: Diversions are reported as continuously monitored streamflow records and as <br />administrative records by Colorado DWR. Continuously monitored streamflow data for <br />Station 06746000 are available for daily and monthly diversions from prior to 1950 <br />through water year 2001. Administrative data for Structure 4704603 are available for <br />daily and monthly diversions from 1987 through water year 2002. Both continuously <br />monitored streamflow records and administrative diversion records are available through <br />Colorado DWR HydroBase. The City of Fort Collins, owner of Michigan Ditch, <br />maintains daily and monthly diversion records for Michigan Ditch. Daily diversion <br />records have been maintained by Fort Collins from 1972 to present. Prior to 1972, Fort <br />Collins only maintained monthly records for Michigan Ditch. <br />Available diversion data for Michigan Ditch was reviewed and compared to identify the <br />best available data source (shown in Figure 2). The preferred set of data identified for <br />Michigan Ditch was the continuously monitored data for Station 06746000. When <br />MichiganDitch.doc 4 of 9 <br />