IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS ON CACHE CREEK. 171 



The supply of water in most of the Lake Count}' streams at the season when 

 irrigation is needed is precarious, and the areas irrigated are small. Scotts Creek 

 is an exception. Here the flow, though not large, is more constant, and irrigation is 

 possible at times when it is most needed. There are also several artesian wells in this 

 valley, and small areas are irrigated from this supply. Unless storage facilities can 

 be secured on the upper reaches of the mountain streams, the area irrigated in this 

 count}- is not likely to be greatly enlarged. Even with storage, the amount of water 

 that can be utilized in this region is small compared with the whole supply in Clear 

 Lake and Cache Creek, and there can be no controversy with the users below. 

 What the opportunities for such stoi-age may be I had no opportunity to investigate. 



IRRIGATION FROM CACHE CREEK. 



The first irrigation from Cache Creek was undertaken by James Moore in 1856. 

 Before beginning work on his canal Moore purchased 850 acres of land covering the 

 point of diversion from William Gordon, also the right of way for the ditch through 

 the Gordon grant. Gordon delivered to Moore a bond for a deed for 850 acres of 

 the Gordon grant, •" together with the entire and exclusive right to build and erect 

 and keep in repair a dam across Cache Creek * * * and the entire and exclusive 

 right to use the waters of the aforesaid 'Jesus Maria' or Cache Creek running 

 through said Gordon's grant, to the sole use and behoof of the said James Moore, 

 his heirs and assigns forever." A deed was later executed, in accordance with the 

 terms of the bond, to F. W. Fratt, Moore's assignee, and the property was by him 

 afterwards deeded to iloore. 



This transfer has an important Vjearing on the subsequent . histor}- of Yolo 

 County and is worthy of some attention. 



In this bond Gordon assumes to fix the title to the water of Cache Creek in 

 Moore. In order to find the ground for Gordon's assumed right to deed away Cache 

 Creek I have made a careful examination of all the papers on file bearing Gordon's 

 title. Gordon's deed came direct from the Mexican governor, General Micheltorena. 

 It reads as follows: 



Manuel Micheltorena, governor, commanding general, inspector of the department of both 

 Californias: 



Whereas William Gordon, a naturalized Mexican, ha.? made application, for his personal benefit 

 and that of his family, for a tract of land in Sanoma between Sierra of Napa and the river Sacramento, 

 the steps and mquiries concerning it being previously made, according to the provisions of the lawn 

 and regulations, using the authority which is conferred upon me, in the name of the Mexican nation, 

 I have conceded to him a part of the land mentioned, declaring to him the ownership of it by these 

 presents letters subjecting it to the approbation of the most excellent departmental assembly, and 

 under the following conditions: 



(1) He may inclose it without prejudice to crossings, roads, and servitudes; he may enjoy it 

 freely and exclusively, appropriating it to the use which best suits him, but within a year he shall 

 build a house and it shall be inhabited. 



(2) When the ownership of it shall be confirmed to him, he shall solicit the proper judge that he 

 may give him judicial possession in virtue of this title; by whom the boundaries shall be marked out. 

 in the limits of which he shall place corner posts and some fruit or forest trees of some use. 



(3) The land of which mention is made is of 2 square leagues within the bounds as represented 

 by the map which is annexed to the res]>ective expedient. The judge who shall give the possession 



