306 IRRIGATION IITVESTIGATIONS IN CALIFOEinA. - 



MTTBPHY SLOTJGH ASSOCIATION. 



To avoid protracted litigation between the appropriators of water from Cole 

 and Murphy sloughs (water being required from these sloughs for the irrigation of 

 lands to the north and westward of the Laguna de Tache Rancho) an association was 

 formed, which was substantially in the nature of an agreement for the apportion- 

 ment of the waters of Murphy Slough. Mui-phy Slough is practically a westerly 

 extension of Cole Slough. The Murphy Slough Association was formed in 1899, and 

 its organization was participated in by the owners of the Laguna de Tache Rancho 

 and by the owners of the Turner, the Millrace, the Reed, the Riverdale, and Burrell 

 ditches. According to this agreement the water of Murphy Slough, until the same 

 exceeds 300 cubic feet per second, is divided into two equal parts, one-Half going to the 

 rancho, the other half to be divided between the several ditches as follows: The Turner 

 Ditch takes one-sixth, the Millrace one-third, the Reed one-sixth, and the Riverdale and 

 Burrell ditches one-third. The Murphy Slough Association has been incorporated, 

 and the agreement as to the apportionment of water is to remain in force five years. 

 This agreement has to the present time been quite satisfactory, and the general opin- 

 ion prevails that at the expiration of the time named it will be renewed. A superin- 

 tendent is appointed by the association, whose duty it is to attend to the proper 

 apportionment of the waters of the slough. 



MIIiLBACE CANAL. 



The Millrace Canal was constructed in 1882. It really consists of two independ- 

 ent canals, one upon the north side of Murphy Slough, the other between two branches 

 thereof, both controlled by the same corporation. (Fig. 15 D.) The south ditch was 

 built a short time before the north ditch. The capacity of the south Millrace is 

 about 16 cubic feet per second, and that of the north Millrace is about 60 cubic feet 

 per second. The north Millrace has a northwesterly course and a length of about 12 

 miles. It is in part a natui-al channel, and has a number of bi-anches extending 

 ■westerly into the Fresno Swamp region. 



TURNER DITCH. 



This ditch was built in 1875 to carry 60 cubic feet of water per second. It is 

 reported to have been enlarged in 1890 to carry 90 cubic feet per second. Its pres- 

 ent capacity is about 50 to 60 cubic feet per second. It is one of the ditches receiving 

 water from Murphy Slough, under control of the Murphy Slough Association, and 

 irrigates lands on the eastern margin of Fresno Swamp, westward from the Laguna 

 de Tache Rancho. (Fig. 15 E.) 



REED DITCH. 



This is one of the old ditches supplied with water by Kings River. Its head is on 

 the north side of Murphy Slough, about 4 miles below Riverdale. (Fig. 15 F.) It 

 was originall}' a small private ditch, having a bed width of about 5 feet and a length 

 of about 4 miles, irrigating a few acres of land near Elkhorn. It was enlarged in 

 1891, and its owners formed a corporation. Its present capacity is estimated at about 

 30 cubic feet per second. The lands it irrigates lie along the eastern margin of Fresno 

 Swamp. 



