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I I II I I I obtains its water from Currant Creek (a tributary of Gunnison River immediately east of Surface Creek and west of Leroux Creek), Cedar Mesa Ditch and Lone Pine Ditch both divert water from Surface Creek and convey it to irrigated lands on Cedar Mesa, Childs Ditch diverts water from Youngs Creek and conveys it to irrigated land in the Lower Surface Creek service area. I I I The system of ditches was constructed gradually as agriculture developed in the Tongue Creek basin. The end result of the gradual development of the conveyance ditches is a fairly complicated network of channels, as shown on the schematics, Figures Il-2 and Il-3, I I I The largest existing reservoir is the Frui tgrowers Reservoir, which obtains part of its water by way of Alfalfa Ditch from Surface Creek, Releases from this reservoir serve an area of orchards in the lower basin of Surface Creek, but the area was not included in this study, Its present situation with respect to water supply was reported to be satisfactory, In the headwaters area of the Tongue Creek basin are approximately 90 small reservoirs with combined storage capacity of 25,000 acre-feet. Releases from these reservoirs make possible much of the present crop production in the study area. I A general description of the Overland Ditch and Reservoir system was given in Section I of this chapter. II I I I I I I Section 4: Irrigation Methods in the Study Area According to historical records, the Tongue Creek basin and neighboring creek basins were first settled and developed in 1861. The early settlers began developing their farms adjacent to streams from which water could be diverted for irrigation, Farmers and ranchers gradually organized irrigation companies for construction of water distribution systems, The early water distribution systems did not, by themselves, meet irrigation needs because streamflows diminshed or stopped completely as the growing season progressed, Farmers and ranchers, Il-5