Gilpin observer., 1904-02-18
FARMING MATTERS.
Utilizing Flood Water.

Prof. L., G. Carpenter. state engineel
of Colorado, before the Colorado State
Realty Association on the subject OF
Water Administration in the Arkan-
sas Valley" will be of general inter-
est:
Water is too valuable source of
public wealth to permit to waste un-
necessarily. Already, in northern Col
orado, stored water has been bringing
as high as $14 per cubic foot, per sec
ond, for twenty-four hours. Certainly
1t can not be worth less than that in
this valley. This value may serve to
give scale to measure the import
ance Of any step for economy.
In addition to the questions which
are common to all streams, the Arkan-
sas has some of it's own. or perhaps it
would be more correct to say, it has
some features emphasized SO much as
to be almost peculiar to itself A large
part of its irrigated area is at consid-
cradle distance from the mountains,
and water for it has to be carried long
distances in the bed of the stream
even 200 miles-and guided through the
gauntlet of the intermediate gates and
dams. 1t has no perennial streams af-
ter leaving Canon City. 1t has and will
have an unusual number of troublesome
questions arising from the storage of
water in the high elevations. While
there are various others, | will pass
them by to emphasize the character OF
It's watershed.
AS none' of the tributaries east of
Canon City are perennial, we are apt
to think of the Arkansas as not only
startling, but reaching its full growth
in the mountains. But Of the water
shed in Colorado, only thirteen per
cent. lies above Canon City and eighty
seven per cent. between there and the
state line, or, to put 1t in figures, 5000
square miles is above Canon City and
1,124 is tributary below. While the
watershed below is not SO important
acre for acre-yet with tve times the
watershed 1t does not need to be, in
order to be in the aggregate of greater.
Importance. AS water does not run
off from these sheds except from heavy
rains, the supply east of the noun
tains becomes a question of floods and
their utilization. Though uncertain
and difficult to manage, they are never
theless important as has been shown
by the experience of the past few years,
and with the scarcity of water from
the mountains, have been the reliance
Of many acres for their supply. The
same flood character pertains to other
tributaries of the Arkansas in the
mountains proper-as Texas creek,
Grape creek and others.
1t Is manifest that the fullest use Of
these resources requires means for
prompt, timely notice of these floods
SO that the administration can have
ample warning and notify the water
users. There might then be a much
more intelligent economy Of water.
The Importance of these tributaries
may be seen by noting the watersheds
of some of them and remembering that
the mountain shed is 5000 square
miles.
Oil, or Four Mile creek, 423 square
miles.
Fountain creek. 1,011 square miles.
St Charles creek, 400 square miles.
Huerafno river, 1854 square miles.
.. Apishapa river. 1858 square miles.
Timpas creek. 70S square miles.
Horse creek, 1,239 square miles.
Adobe creek, 523 square miles.
Purgatoire river, 3,494 square miles.
Rule creek, $50 square miles.
Big candy creek, 3.151 square miles.
There are two tributaries whose
watershed exceed that of the main
Arkansas above Canon City; four
others exceeding 1000 square miles
each and combined area of five times
the Poudre watershed, which irrigates
100000 acres.
AS the question is one which is of
equal Importance to the whole valley,
l have expanded the plan to what
would be a skeleton organization, to
give the information needed by the
water commissioners and division en-
gineers, necessary for the just distri-
button of water and to utilize 1t to the
best advantage.
AS whole the system would be to
establish stations on the main river
and tributaries, so that close record
would be had of the behavior OF each
stream. In the mountains the sta
tons would be on the main river, but
as the reservoir problems multiply, ad-
ditional ones on the tributaries-where
reservoirs are located-would be
necessary. On the plains, where the
bitches which might be benefited by
floods. are nearer headgates. warning
stations should be far enough from
the main river to give twenty-four
hours or more warning. Reports should
be given by mail, telephone or tele-
graph to central Office. Some rain
gauges should be distributed, and
through such means, warnings might
be still earlier. These stations should
be located on the Arkansas at Lead
Vile, Granite Salida, Canon City, Pu-
eblo. Rocky Ford. Fort Lyon canal,
Las Animas Amity canal and at the
state line. Stations should also be To-
Gated upon the following tributaries:
South Fork. Texas creek. Grape creek
t2), Four Mile creek. Beaver creek (2),
Fountain creek (2). st. Charles creek
(2), Huerfano river (2), Apishapa
river (2), Timpas creek a. Horse
creek (2), Adobe creek (2). Purgatoire
river (3) and Rule creek O.
Estimate Of cost per year:
One man with engineering quail
hcations for the Office work