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SEEPAGE AND RETURN WATERS 
DETAILED MEASUREMENTS 
THE CACHE LA POUDRE 
By L. G. CARPENTER! 
The following tables* give the measurements in detail in the series of 
seepage measurements made on the various streams in Colorado under my 
direction in connection with the Experiment Station. In Bulletin 33, 1896, 
the measurements made to that time on the Poudre and Platte Rivers were 
given. These are repeated, inasmuch as that Bulletin is unavailable, and 
their need is still felt. 
This Part will more especially give the measurements. The comments 
and results of their study are given in Part I. 
The methods used in taking these measurements were a gradual de¬ 
velopment. The fact that the Poudre seemed to increase in volume after 
the ditches had been taken from it was a matter of comment among some 
of those who were conversant with the streams, and especially to Mr. B. 
S. La Grange, who was one of those most interested in irrigation and had 
so much to do with its practical development and the early administration. 
It was not commonly believed. The first trial was made by Mr. E. S. Net- 
tleton, then State Engineer, at the request of Mr. La Grange, water com¬ 
missioner on the Poudre. 
The trial was made in October, 18 85. The ditches were all shut 
down and no water taken from the river, except such as leaked through 
the headgates. This measurement showed a gain of 87 feet to the Ogilvy 
Ditch, below Greeley, 4 miles above the mouth of the Poudre. 
A second measurement was made by Mrs. E. C. Hawkins and L. R. 
Hope, then connected with the State Engineer’s office, in 1889, under the 
direction of Mr. Nettleton, who was then chief engineer of the U. S. Irri¬ 
gation survey of that date. Another measurement was made by the same 
two under State Engineer Maxwell in 1890. The series of measurements 
then ceased. I took it up at the Experiment Station largely because of the 
fact that the funds available for the irrigation and meteorological work of 
the Experiment Station only amounted to about $200 per year for all 
field purposes and equipment and this line of investigation promised some 
results within reach of our means. It is practically certain that had more 
means been available, that other things would have been taken up, but as 
it proved, the results obtained were of far reaching importance. 
The series of measurements show not only the absolute amount of 
gain from year to year, but as they have been taken during the develop¬ 
ment of an irrigated community they thus show the progressive changes. 
While such increase of streams is noted in irrigation countries, in most 
cases the changes due to the development of irrigation is lost, certainly 
beyond the observation of living persons. 
The results give the occasion to point out, in Bulletin 33, the future 
importance and have furnished the basis which has been relied upon to 
develop a large part of the state, and especially in the Platte Valley. 
The methods used developed with time. As it was impossible to 
cause the ditches to be shut down, the co-operation of the water commis¬ 
sioners and the ditches was secured, so that the ditches would be held con¬ 
stant during the few days of measurement. After the experience of a few 
years it was found to be best to divide the river into sections and to at¬ 
tempt to eliminate the consequences of any fluctuation in the river. Each 
section was thus treated separately and its gain or loss determined. The 
stage of water at night was recorded, and if any change, measured again 
in the morning. When with a party, I kept the results worked up as we 
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