Another Scorcher

Michael headed over to the West Boulder this morning to retrieve his equipment and was back before lunch time.  He spent his day replacing the tires on the jeep and irrigating.  We both spent a lot of time indoors as did Emmi—it was a scorcher outside, 92 degrees. 

Here are some irrigating photos to kind of explain how the process works—when this country was settled people knew water would be important.  Water rights were applied for and granted as far back as the 1800’s.  The water rights on this land we own date back to 1899.  We have the second oldest water rights on Elk Creek meaning there is another person in line in front of us for irrigating water—he happens to be a very wealthy individual and has bought the three larger ranches which surround us.  So far we have managed to maintain good relationships with his employees—essential when you are talking water!!    Back in the wild west men were killed over water rights—even in Michael’s day people he personally knows have been threatened with guns over water usage!!  Neighbors and friends became enemies over stolen water or hording of water.  Downright scary when down south all people have to do is wait for it to rain!!!

There is a main head gate about six miles from us which is opened allowing the water from the creek to flow into the main ditches.  We control the water which rolls into our ditches with a series of head gates and with dam material. 

Water dammed and flowing out through a series of cuts we make in the ditch:

The water flows across the pastures into the next set of ditches which we also dam allowing the water to flow across the next field.  If we have lots of water, the dams need to be moved at least twice a day if not more.  Sometimes the neighbors send us too much water and we have water, water everywhere—flowing down the driveway, etc.

And there you have it, Irrigating 101. 

And hey Robyn and Claire—that horse of yours just loves to pull up the irrigating dams we’ve set!!