WSP07062

• File Number: 8449
• Description: South Platte Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 7/1/1968
• Author: Bittinger and Assoc
• Title: Water Utilization Study Water District 2 ‎(South Platte)‎
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

34

Union Ditch

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According to the Farm Utilization Study made by the Bureau of Reclama-
tion, the Union Ditch irrigates 5,24~ acres. The water commissioner for
Water District 2 reported 7,000 irrigated acres for 1961 and 1966, and
Mr. William Gaunt, attorney and secretary for the Consolidated Ditches
Association reported 5,863 irrigated acres for the Union Ditch. The canal
starts at a point about 3 miles northwest of Gilcrest and ends about 4 miles
northeast of Evans. Enroute the canal passes jusL south of LaSolle. Most
of the irrigated land is river bottom land along the east und south of the
South Platte River with some of the Kersey Terrace served by the lower end
of the ditch.

The Union Ditch Company holds direct-flow water rights from the South
Platte River as follows:

Priority No. 32 da ted Sept. 26, 1873 for 4.00 cu. ft. per sec.
" " 36 " Nov. 5, 1874 for 100.00 cu. fto per sec.
n " :'4 " Nov. 2, l8el for 84.03 cu. ft. per sec.
Total 188.03 cu. ft. per sec.

The Union Ditch also has a right for seepage waste water from a drainage ~
feeder to th~ canal for 20 cfs dated July 15, 1893. Because of its locotion
the ditch probably obtains significant amounts of bank seepage water from
the irrigation of land and canals lying "bove the elevation of the Union 0,
Canal. In the data for this canal no estimate has been milde for any seepage
water accruing to the canal flow. Consequently, the umount of water delivered
to the farm headga'tes may be somewhat greater than reported.

The ditch company owns stock in the Union Reservoir In Water District 5,
from which it generally receives 2-3,000 acre-feet of waLer per year.

11istorjcal water diversions

During the l:,-year period from 1947 to 1961, inclusive, the monthly and
yearly diversion records compiled by the 8ureau of Reclamation show the
following:

Total Water Diverted (acre-feet)

M,Jx.
Min.
Ave.

Apr
3',500
o
813

May
6,200
300
4,180

Jun
9,400
3,100
6,153

Jul
10,500
5,600
8,493

Aug
11,000
5,300
8,413

Sep
7,500
2,.:::100
~,993

Oct
4,600
o
2,440

Year
44,700
27,900
36,4137

During 9 of the 15 yenrs (eliminating 3 lowest and 3 highest years)
from 31,300 to 41,300 acre-feet were diverted from the South Platte River.,

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