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<br />The Hyde ditch has recently changed its point of diversion from the <br />headgate on the north bank just opposite the city of Lamar, to a point on the <br />canal about 2 miles downditch from the old headgate. Water from the Arkansas <br />River is pumped to the Hyde Canal at the new point of diversion, and the west- <br />ern part of the ditch is maintained to intercept the West May Valley Drainage <br />Ditch. The Hyde ditch irrigates about 970 acres west of Big Sandy Creek. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Manvel ditch irrigates about 750 acres on the south side of the <br />river, from a headgate located about 7 miles downstream from Lamar. The <br />Manvel ditch has been unable to divert through its headgate under normal <br />conditions since the 1965 flood. The canal operates from wells, some seepage, <br />and Arkansas River Compact storage water. Storage water is delivered through <br />the Lamar Canal. <br /> <br />The X-Y Canal and Graham Ditch share a common ditch and headgate, about <br />4 miles downstream from the Manvel ditch headgate, irrigating about <br />6,000 acres on the south side of the Arkansas River. In recent years, the <br />Graham water right has been transferred to the exclusive use of wells. <br /> <br />The Buffalo Canal diverts from the north bank, irrigating about <br />5,000 acres of land around Holly. The Buffalo Canal also has rights to divert <br />out of Buffalo Creek. The Holly Drain drains land irrigated by the Buffalo <br />Canal. The Sisson Ditch no longer irrigates with surface water; all rights of <br />this ditch have been transferred to wells. The Frontier ditch, although its <br />headgate is located in Colorado, irrigates land in Kansas, and is considered a <br />Kansas ditch. <br /> <br />Arkansas River Tributaries <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The raising of stock feed is the major use of irrigation on the Arkansas <br />River basin tributaries. Alfalfa is perhaps the most common crop, followed by <br />irrigated pasture, hay, and small grains. Surface water is the largest source <br />of irrigation supply; but, with the advent of center-pivot sprinklers, some <br />ground water is beginning to be used for irrigation. <br /> <br />Wet Mountain Valley <br />The Wet Mountain Valley, located in Custer and Fremont Counties between <br />the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Range, is drained by Grape and <br />Texas Creeks. The drainage basins of those creeks comprise Colorado Water <br />District l3. <br /> <br />Lake DeWeese (DeWeese-Dye Reservoir) is located on Grape Creek at the <br />downstream end of the irrigated area. It regulates the irrigation supply of <br />the DeWeese-Dye ditch, which diverts from the east bank of Grape Creek near <br />the mouth, and irrigates orchard, truck crops, and alfalfa in and near Canon <br />City. <br /> <br />Fourmile, Hardscrabble, and Beaver Creeks <br />The Canon Heights Irrigation Company uses five small reservoirs located <br />on the north side of Canon City that receive water from Fourmile Creek through <br />the Park Center Ditch. Canon Heights Irrigation Company also controls one- <br />seventh of Mount Pisgah Reservoir storage, with rights to the use of water <br />from a nontributary flowing well. The Hardscrabble ditch on Hardscrabble <br />Creek is the oldest water right in Water District l2, dating from May l, l860. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />36 <br />