PROJ00476

• Contract/PO #: C153594
• Contractor Name: Handy Ditch Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 4
• County: Larimer
• Bill Number: HB 91-1006
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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HANDY DITCH COMPANY. . .

Berthoud, Colorado

CHAPTER II

A. HISTORY

THE HANDY DITCH COMPANY

The Handy Ditch Company was incorporated in 1878 by three
attorneys residing in Golden. They were C. C. Welch, J. C.
Hummel, and F. E. Everett. This company took the name of H.
L. Handy who identified the project. It was not until 1888
that sufficient money and community interest made it possible
to construct the irrigation system. Much of the work was done
by farmers who brought in their teams of horses and slips to
gouge out the rudimentary ditch. The farmers received shares of
stock for their efforts.

A diversion structure was constructed on the Big Thompson
River where the river emerges from a steep canyon. The ditch
runs south paralleling the foothills until it arrives at the
divide between the Big Thompson and Little Thompson Rivers
where it runs east following the divide. The area that would
be irrigated was in the Little Thompson Basin.

Shortly after turning easterly, it entered a series of blow-
outs that were converted into storage reservoirs by establishing
outlet gates and dams. This reservoir construction was done in
stages. Each stage took on the name of Welch, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

In 1888, the Town of Berthoud had located itself on the
bench above the Little Thompson River and was waiting impatiently
for the Ditch to bring in water as the only source of water was
what was hauled from The Little Thompson River a mile and a
half away.

When the Ditch did bring in water, the Town leased and later
bought a small reservoir north of the Town which was sufficient
for year-round storage. The Town has been solely dependent on
The Handy Ditch for its domestic water since its inception.

Ever since 1888, there has been continuous activity to improve
and enlarge the system. In 1902, the reservoirs were enlarged,
and in 1906, the Number 1 Headgate was built to serve the Welch
Lateral Ditch. In 1948, the entire dyke was raised and improved.
In 1978, the Ditch Company entered into a contract with the Soil
Conservation District to rehabilitate the entire system. Several
structures were replaced, and the Welch dyke was brought up to
engineering specifications. This work was done on a cost share
basis with The Handy Ditch paying one-half or $330,000.00 which
was financed through the Farmers Home Administration.

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