Water News: Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District Volume 1 Issue 13

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THE FORT LYON CANAL. The Fort Lyon Canal is 113 miles in length from the headgate to the end of the canal at Big Sandy Creek and is considered to be one of the longest and largest irrigation conduit in Colorado. The canal was originally intended to provide irrigation water for the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians, however, little is know of the extent of the farming operations carried on by the Indians. In 1868, George T. Reynolds, a Texas cattleman, purchased a land claim under this ditch, native grasses and corn were principal crops. In 1874, the land was sold to Abraham Armentrout who continued to use the ditch for irrigation. Inspired by the success of irrigating in Northern Colorado the Arkansas River Land, Town and Canal Company formed in 1884 for the purpose of constructing ditches to irrigate the lands of the Arkansas valley, building thirteen miles of canal. As years passed construction on the canal continued to Big Sandy Creek, then four miles to Horse Creek, changing hands several times. Not only did the canal struggle with financial backing, but it also struggled with a shortage of water, partly due to improper dam diversion and headwork resulting in a canal filled with sand. Construction continued with each buy out, which included: 17 miles from the headgate to Horse Creek, extending 23 miles beyond Horse Creek to Gageby Arroyo and from Gageby Arroyo to Big Sandy Creek, 73 miles. In April 15, 1884 the Fort Lyon Canal received its first "senior water right" of 164.4 cubic feet per second (c.f.$), and the second for 597.16 second feet on March 1, 1887. In 1890 during 10,306.4 shares in the treasury. On August 31, 1893 the canal company received an additional appropriation of water rights of 171.2 c.f.s. In 1906, the stockholders agreed upon construction of a canal from the Arkansas River conveying water directly to the Horse Creek and Adobe Creek Reservoirs. Since 1898, the structure of the canal has not changed direction because the canal was advantageously located with the natural flow of the river. The canal is supplemented by !4;0 another buy out it was evident that the canal had been greatly oversold beyond its capacity. Thereafter floods damaged the canal, incurring more cost under an already huge financial burden. Finally on July 9, 1897 by order of the Supreme Court, the Fort Lyon Canal Company was organized and incorporated by the water right owners and stock was issued. The total number of shares of stock the company issues to the landowners is 94,693.6, leaving .5 reservoirs and fed by canals conducting floodwaters of the river and tributaries to Horse Creek, Adobe Creek, King and Thurston Reservoirs. The sole objective is to conserve and distribute the available water supply to the lands of its stockholders, and is not conducted for speculation or profit. It is evident that investment in the Fort Lyon Canal is wise, not only for the canal company, but also for those individual's that rely on farming as a source of income, as well as the economic development for Southeastern Colorado. As was said in 1972, by Arthur Esgar, who served on the board for the Fort Lyon Canal for 24 years, "The water rights are really a part of the land on which they're located." For more detailed information on the above article you can check with your local library for The Fort Lyon Canal The First 100 Years 1897 to 1997, by O. Ray Dodson, Ph.D. Written by: Margie Miller, Compliance/ Administrative Clerk, SECWCD