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valley triV»iitaries in addition to that of the main stream itself. Of 

 this 1,200 s(j[uare miles, 876 square miles is tributar}^ to the river 

 aboye its point of entrance into Oallatin Valley. This rough, moun- 

 tainous area lies at an elevation above sea level varying- from 9,000 to 

 10,000 feet near Gallatin Lake in the Park to 5,200 feet at the mouth 

 of West Gallatin Canyon. The greater part of this area lying below 

 the timber line is covered with a heav}' and luxuriant growth of forest 

 and underbrush well calculated to conserve and protect the soil mois- 

 ture, snowdrifts, and ice banks, from which the water supply of the 

 river is drawn. 



Like all mountain streams the West Gallatin derives its supply from 

 a multitude of feeders and tributaries, both small and large, which 

 head up in the mountains. In this discussion the West Gallatin tribu- 

 taries have been divided into two classes, viz, the canyon tributaries 

 and the valle}^ tributaries. 



The highest tributary of sufficient importance to be here considered 

 is Taylors Fork or Dodge Creek, which enters from the west near 

 the twenty-fifth mile of the river's course. As yet there is no irriga- 

 tion from this creek, although during 1902 there were several filings 

 made upon its waters. The land to be served lies along the creek 

 bottom near the river. The elevation of the canyon in this vicinit}' is 

 about 7,000 feet. 



In the next 10 miles below Taylors Fork several fair-sized tribu- 

 taries join the river. Among the important ones are Buffalo Horn, 

 Cinnamon, Buck, and Elkhorn creeks. From only one of these 

 streams, Buffalo Horn, is there tiny water diverted for irrigation. In 

 1899 a small ditch was taken out of this creek and with it about 200 

 acres of canyon land is said to be irrigated. 



About 12 miles below Taylors Fork the river is joined from the east 

 by Porcupine Creek and from the west near the same point by Beaver 

 Creek. Some 3 miles below, West Fork, the largest tributary of the 

 West Gallatin, enters from the west. The canyon, from a point a 

 mile or so above Porcupine and Beaver creeks to the junction point 

 of West Fork and the river, widens out and forms what is called the 

 "Lower basin.'' This basin is about 3 miles long b}- 1 to 1.5 miles 

 wide and is estimated to contain probably 2,000 acres of arable land, 

 most of which could be irrigated. As yet there are but two small 

 ditches taken out in the basin. One taps Porcupine Creek and serves 

 about 200 acres of land on the east side of the river. The other takes 

 its supply from West Fork and serves about 200 acres. Both of these 

 are late ditches, the Waters ditch out of Porcupine Creek having })een 

 built in 1900, the Crail ditch out of West Fork being built in 1902. A 

 ditch out of Beaver Creek is planned, construction to begin soon. 

 This ditch is to serve about 1,000 or 1,200 acres of land lying on the 

 west side of the river. 



