40 BULLETIN 1026, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGEICULTUEE. 



The original "water supply of the canal was of practicall}' no value 

 and the constant endeavor of the company to build up a reliable 

 supply has resulted in the acquisition of various reservoirs, canals, 

 and rights. 



The main canal of the system heads in the Xorth Fork of the Cache 

 la Poudre in section 12, T. 10 N., E. 71 W., and is about 25 miles long, 

 including 4 or 5 miles of natural channel in Campbell Draw. The 

 bottom width at the head is 22 feet, the maximum depth of water 

 carried is 3.3 feet, and the maximum capacity is 200 second-feet. 

 There is comparatively little irrigation from tliis canal, but it sup- 

 plies the lower reservoirs of the sj'stem from which the distributing 

 laterals extend. 



The Scurvin Ditch leaves the main canal a short distance above 

 Campbell Draw and supplies a large area along the Boxelder but 

 above the main canal. It also serves as an intake canal for Reservoir 

 No. 15. 



The compan}^ is also interested in the Poudre Valley Canal to the 

 extent of a first right to the use of the canal as a carrier both to store 

 water in Reservoirs Xo. 5 and Xo. 6 and for direct irrigation of 

 lands just north of Fort Collins. 



In addition, the company owns the Michigan Ditch, which diverts 

 water from tributaries of the Michigan River into the Cache la 

 Poudre. Water from this ditch may be used directly through the 

 Poudre Valley canal or in the main canal by exchange. 



The total storage capacitj^ available for the system is close to 

 53,000 acre-feet, as is shown by the accompanying list of the com- 

 pany's reservoirs. The most valuable reservoir of the company is 

 Halligan, which is in the bed of the Xorth Fork several miles above 

 the head of the main canal. In addition to commanding all the land 

 irrigated by the system " temporary " storage of direct flow rights 

 in it is permitted by court decree. Reservoir Xo. 15 derives its value 

 from the fact that it also is above the main canal and commands a 

 large part of the total acreage of the system. 



Water stored in Reservoirs Xo. 5, and Xo. 6, Fossil Creek Reservoir, 

 and Portner Reservoir can be used only by exchange, but they are 

 essential features of the system. The available supply for the Fos- 

 sil Creek Reservoir has been such that its filling was practically as- 

 sured each year. The rights of the Xorth Poudre company in this 

 reservoir are subject, however, to the prior satisfaction of preferred 

 rights aggregating 150,000,000 cubic feet or 3,444 acre feet. 



The company is part owner of the Boxelder Ditch & Reservoir Co. 

 and secures several hundred acre-feet of stored water from tliis source 

 each 3'ear. 



