WSP04784

• File Number: 8103
• Description: Arkansas river Basin Legislation
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/1/1968
• Author: W W Wheeler and Asso
• Title: Water Legislation Investigations for the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado Volume II Comprehensive Report September 1968
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

O'laJO

DEVELOPMENT OF BASIN WATER RESOURCES

The use of water from the Arkansas River commenced with diversions

from small ditches for the production of foodstuffs and forage for the

early mining camps and migrants to the west coast. This early develop-

ment started in the early 1860's.

Following the individual entrepreneur, development of a water

right became more difficult because of the larger irrigation systems

involved. Numerous partnerships were formed in order to secure suffi-

cient money and cooperative labor for the construction of proper diver-

sion and transmission facil ities.

The next phase of irrigation development demanded financing on a

much larger scale than was possible by the aforementioned methods.

Large sums of foreign capital were invested by corporations in enlarg-

ing Some. of the canal systems theretofor constructed and in the Con-

struction of extensive new systems. Most of this development occurred

between 1874 and 1890. The earl iest original date of appropriation

for any major canal on the Arkansas River between Nepesta and John

Martin Reservoir is that of the Rocky Ford Ditch. It has an appropri-

ation date of May 15, 1874, for 111.76 cubic feet of water per second.

Many of these corporate enterprises were later consolidated with other

existing facilities. It is often found that the older and better

water rights of large canal systems are based On the previous earlier

appropriations by the individual and community. Due very largely to

economic conditions, many of the early ventures resulted in losses to

the investor. With the passing of time, all the corporation-constructed

and owned canal systems in the valley became the property of the indivi-

dual water users through the formation of mutual companies.

The fourth phase in the development of irrigation in the Arkansas

Valley resulted from the realization by owners of junior priority

canal systems that natural stream flow was generally inadequate to

supply irrigation requirements after the spring runoff. However, they

noted that occasionally large quantities of water ran to waste past

their headgates and those of other appropriators on the stream system.

In order to capture these flood flows, reservoirs were constructed. The

impounded water was then released as required to meet seasonal irrigation

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