This report provides a historical overview of the Gould Canal within the broader context of irrigation history of the Fruitland Mesa Irrigation Network in order to mitigate adverse effects of piping and rerouting a segment of the canal.

The Fruitland Mesa Irrigation Network is representative of organized efforts in which ditch users and commercial agriculture investors collaborated to operate and maintain a ditch. The Fruitland Mesa Irrigation Network was constructed in the early 1900s to supply water to what would come to be known as Fruitland Mesa and has been continuously in use for irrigation since its original construction.

As a major component of the Network, the Gould Canal is significant to regional settlement and agricultural development between 1901 and 1930. The report provides a discussion of the significant association of the Network with the Gould family in Aspen and the Cotton family in Crawford as well as the unique engineering and design of the Gould Canal.

Authors:  Kathy Croll and Heather Mrzlack, ERO Resources Corporation

Keywords:  Irrigation, Gould Canal, Fruitland Mesa Irrigation Network