Grand Ditch
Encyclopedia
The Grand Ditch, also known as the Grand River Ditch and originally known as the North Grand River Ditch, is a water diversion project in the Never Summer Mountains
, in northern Colorado
(United States
). It is 14.3 miles (23 km) long, 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, and 3 foot (0.9144 m) deep on average. Streams and creeks that flow from the highest peaks of the Never Summer Mountains are diverted into the ditch, which flows over the Continental Divide at La Poudre Pass
at 10175 feet (3,101.3 m), delivering the water into the Cache La Poudre River
for eastern plains farmers. The ditch was started in 1890 and wasn't completed until 1936. The ditch diverts between 20 to 40% of the runoff from the Never Summer Mountains, and delivers an average of 20000 acre.ft. It significantly impacts the ecology in the valley below and the National Park Service
has fought in court to reduce the amount of diverted water.
ese crews, working with hand tools and black powder. The first diverted water flowed east across La Poudre Pass on October 15, 1890. Water Supply and Storage Company took over ownership in 1891. The ditch was extended every year, and reached three miles in 1894.
After the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park
, increasing demand for water led to the creation of Long Draw Reservoir, and the required land was taken away from the park in 1923. Long Draw reservoir opened in 1930. The Grand Ditch was then lengthened one more time—this required an act of Congress since it was now in a national park—to 14.3 miles (23 km) in September 1936.
In May 2003 a 100 foot section of the ditch breached about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of La Poudre Pass, causing the water to cascade down the slopes and into the Colorado River. The flood left a visible scar on the mountainside. The Water Supply and Storage Company was ordered to pay $9 million in damages to Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Grand River Ditch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 29, 1976.
Never Summer Mountains
The Never Summer Mountains are a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado in the United States. The range is located along the northwest border of Rocky Mountain National Park, forming the continental divide between the headwaters of the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain...
, in northern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
(United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). It is 14.3 miles (23 km) long, 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, and 3 foot (0.9144 m) deep on average. Streams and creeks that flow from the highest peaks of the Never Summer Mountains are diverted into the ditch, which flows over the Continental Divide at La Poudre Pass
La Poudre Pass
La Poudre Pass elevation is a high mountain pass located in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the Continental Divide, and separates the headwaters of La Poudre Pass Creek, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, from the headwaters of the Colorado...
at 10175 feet (3,101.3 m), delivering the water into the Cache La Poudre River
Cache La Poudre River
The Cache la Poudre River is in the state of Colorado in the United States.Its headwaters are in the Front Range in Larimer County, in the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park. The river descends eastward in the mountains through the Roosevelt National Forest in Poudre Canyon...
for eastern plains farmers. The ditch was started in 1890 and wasn't completed until 1936. The ditch diverts between 20 to 40% of the runoff from the Never Summer Mountains, and delivers an average of 20000 acre.ft. It significantly impacts the ecology in the valley below and the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
has fought in court to reduce the amount of diverted water.
History
The Grand Ditch was built by the Larimer County Ditch Company, mostly by JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese crews, working with hand tools and black powder. The first diverted water flowed east across La Poudre Pass on October 15, 1890. Water Supply and Storage Company took over ownership in 1891. The ditch was extended every year, and reached three miles in 1894.
After the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park located in the north-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado.It features majestic mountain views, a variety of wildlife, varied climates and environments—from wooded forests to mountain tundra—and easy access to back-country trails...
, increasing demand for water led to the creation of Long Draw Reservoir, and the required land was taken away from the park in 1923. Long Draw reservoir opened in 1930. The Grand Ditch was then lengthened one more time—this required an act of Congress since it was now in a national park—to 14.3 miles (23 km) in September 1936.
In May 2003 a 100 foot section of the ditch breached about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of La Poudre Pass, causing the water to cascade down the slopes and into the Colorado River. The flood left a visible scar on the mountainside. The Water Supply and Storage Company was ordered to pay $9 million in damages to Rocky Mountain National Park.
The Grand River Ditch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on September 29, 1976.
External links
- Grand Ditch, Baker Creek to LaPoudre Pass Creek, Grand Lake vicinity, Grand, CO at the Historic American Engineering Record