PROJ00434

• Contract/PO #: C153337
• Contractor Name: Farmers Extension Ditch & Highland Lake Lateral Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 1
• County: Weld
• Bill Number: FSA
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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THE ORGANIZATION OF THE
HIGHLAND LAKE LATERAL AND
THE FARMERS EXTENSION DITCH COMPANIES

The Highland Lake Lateral Ditch Company and the Farmers Extension Ditch Company

were organized in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The purpose of these entities

was to construct and maintain their respective irrigation ditches. The ditches

were constructed at a period of time when a large amount of money was being in-

vested to create a reliable irrigation network on the fertile plains of eastern

Colorado using waters from the west side of the Continental Divide. The spear-

head of these irrigation ditches was the construction of the Big Thompson System.

With the availability of water, farmers were offered the opportunity of being

able to plan when crops were to be planted and harvested.

The Highland Lake Lateral Ditch Company built their section of ditch first from

the Highland Ditch to 1-25, It was after this that the Farmers Extension was

built and extended to its present day termination point. The Ditch Companies

have been invested with certain powers and authorities. Two (2) of these are:

1, Right to eminent domain,

2. Assessing authorities used to raise income for operation and
maintenance of the ditches, and for the purpose of raising capital
for major improvements.

The Highland Lake Lateral and Farmers Extension Irrigation Ditch Companies are

separate entities, but have for many years operated in conjunction with each

other. ' They utilize the same maintenance personnel and have prepared their

financial balance sheets as one. These balance sheets are shown on Table 3, in

the Financial Evaluation Section of this report. As can be seen on this table,

there has only been one (1) year where a loss has occurred, and this occurred

because assessments and carrying charges were not raised to cover increasing

expenses until 1978; thereby having to use accumulated surplus monies. The

assessment charges were raised again in 1978 and a profit was again seen in 1979.

Assessments have been raised one dollar ($1) a year since 1978 and the ditch

companies have shown a continual increase in profits since that time.

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