Irrigation Canals in the Uinta Basin, Ouray Park Canal, Duchesne

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER UTAH,7-DUCH.V,1B-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Ouray Park Canal is one of the largest canals in the Uinta Basin, both in terms of volume and overall length. Correspondingly, it has had one of the largest impacts upon the agricultural developments of the Uinta Basin. The canal served both white and Indian water and has been operated under joint cooperative ownership. Furthermore, the Ouray Park Canal lives up to its name as large segments of the waterway are extremely picturesque. The canal exhibits a number of significant engineering features and provides a source of recreational use. Inventoried by: James Jurale, David Stalheim, Craig Fuller National Park Service July Irrigation Canals in the Uinta Basin, Ouray Park Canal HAER No. UT-30-B (Page 2)

Description and Background History

On August the Colorado Park Irrigation Company filed for and received the right to divert 42 cfs from the Uinta River. The point of diversion was from the southwest corner of Section 23, T. S., R. 1 E. Work on the canal began almost immediately, but because of the poor financial conditions of the irrigation company-due in part to the extreme droughts of and which prevented the farmers from paying their allotment fees, the canal was not completed until The finished product measured feet long, 38 feet wide at the top, 30 feet wide at the bottom and 4 feet deep. In addition to a rock and brush diversion dam and a wooden headgate, the canal system included four flumes, 10 bridges and 17 lateral gates.

On October 19, the Indian Irrigation Service filed for c s from the Uinta to be carried through the Colorado Park Canal. On the basis of this information, we can assume that after the canal carried both white and Indian water. In the Ouray Valley Irrigation Company merged with the Colorado Park Irrigation Company. The new company took the name Ouray Park Irrigation Company. The change in the name of the canal from Colorado Park to Ouray Park most likely occurred at the same time. The existing headworks of the Ouray Park Canal were constructed in Water flow is regulated by twin screw headgates which work in conjunction with a radial diversion panel. The canal runs for a total of 16 miles and includes a number of significant structures.

The section of canal just south of Cotton wood Reservoir is particularly noteworthy for its scenic beauty. The canal resembles a mountain trout stream (and is, in fact, stocked with trout by the Utah Fish and Game Department) as it enters a series of drops and rapidly loses elevation. A twin 50-foot waterfall enhances the parklike aura of the canal. REFERENCES "Certificate of Appropriation of Water" Application #357A, Cert. B.I.A. Irrigation Office, Fort Duchesne, Utah. File (Colorado Park Irr. Co.)," State Engineers Office, Salt Lake City, Utah. "Minute Book, Ouray Valley Irrigation Company, Glenda Brown, Pelican Lake, Utah.