History
General History
Farmers Ditch was constructed in 1862 at a cost of $5,500, and "took a considerable amount of time". However the price was worth it to bring 3,000 acres under irrigation.
The Farmers Ditch was the first source of drinking water for most of North Boulder. Laterals (small ditches branching off of the main ditch) ran parallel to most east-west streets, providing water to early households of Boulder. An early newspaper complained that during a cold spell in 1869 that "there's no water running in the farmers ditch, which should supply the tidy housewives of Boulder who are grumbling considerably thereat."
Farmers Ditch provided a source of water that allowed for the development of small farms, market gardens, intensive agriculture, and suburbs in what is now North Boulder. These lands included fields of alfalfa, grass, vegetable such as chard, and fruit orchards. One of the last remaining examples of this is Long's Iris Gardens.
In 1953 a 3,300 ft section of Farmers Ditch was realigned and buried in a siphon that runs parallel to 9th St and under North Boulder Park. This construction allowed for the addition of 16 more buildings lots and addressed some of the concerns about the safety and maintenance of the open ditch flowing through the neighborhood.
EVENT TIMELINE
1862 - Construction completed and water is first diverted into the ditch.
1866 - Yount Mill is built at the mouth of the canyon, powered by water from Farmers Ditch.
1872 - On August 9th the Farmers Ditch Company was created to manage the Farmers Ditch.
1880 - City of Boulder purchases their first 15 shares to supplement the municipal water supply.
1885 - Rule passed to ban hogs from accessing the ditch.
1890 - Board of Directors expanded from 3 members to 5 members.
1892 - Reincorporation of the Farmers Ditch Company.
1893 - Ditch Company By-Laws adopted.
1896 - Ditch Company files water right for Farmers Ditch.
1908 - Replacement of the 6-Mile Creek Siphon
1912 - Headgates installed on all laterals
1916 - Farmers Ditch Company joins the District 6 Water User's Association
1925 - City of Boulder completes the first transfer of shares of Farmers Ditch to the Silver Lake Pipeline.
1926 - Construction of the Sunshine Canyon Creek Siphon completed.
1927 - Replacement of the 6-Mile Creek Siphon.
1930 - Replacement of Boulder Creek Diversion Structure.
1940 - Ditch Company authorizes prorating and sectioning of the ditch by the ditch superintendent.
1948 - Measuring Flume installed on the ditch.
1953 - Construction of the North Boulder Park Siphon completed by the Hudson Construction Company.
1954 - Ditch is piped under the new Hwy 119.
1956 - Replacement of the 6-Mile Creek Siphon.
1960 - Replacement of the Boulder Valley Ranch Siphon.
1964 - Repairs of 6-Mile Creek Siphon and Boulder Valley Ranch Siphon after someone dynamited them.
1966 - Ditch rerouted for construction of the Elk's Lodge.
1980 - Ditch lined at Maxwell Avenue. Ditch channel straightened north of Orange Orchard.
1982 - Ditch rerouted at 26th & Norwood for development.