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Mapping Colorado's Irrigation Divisions and Water Districts

This is a rare Colorado map of the state's Irrigation Divisions and the Water Districts, created in 1908  by the Colorado State Engineer's Office. It delineates the state's water districts, organized into major irrigation divisions, reflecting Colorado’s early efforts to manage and distribute its water resources.  This is the second edition of the map, which was first issued in 1906 and again in 1921.

The map highlights the districts in bold numerical annotations and the five major iirrigation divisions, overlaid on the state’s topography. Rivers and canals, crucial to Colorado's irrigation infrastructure, are depicted in blue, emphasizing the importance of water in the arid western environment. 

The map captures Colorado’s legislative and administrative organization of water rights and management during the early 20th century. Irrigation divisions were created to regulate water usage in a state where agriculture and settlement depended heavily on equitable water distribution. Each water district operated under a water commissioner, who ensured compliance with established water laws and managed water allocations. 

The management of water in Colorado dates back to the 1850s, when early settlers and farmers diverted streams for irrigation. Conflicts over water use were common, prompting the need for a formal legal framework. In 1876, Colorado adopted its constitution, which enshrined the doctrine of prior appropriation—“first in time, first in right”—as the basis for water rights.

By 1881, the Colorado General Assembly established water districts to ensure proper administration of water rights and created the position of water commissioner to manage water allocation. Over the next two decades, water districts were refined as irrigation expanded. In 1889, the State Engineer's Office was established to oversee water infrastructure and planning, as irrigation projects became more ambitious.

The creation of irrigation divisions in 1903 marked a significant shift, grouping water districts into larger administrative units to address regional concerns and ensure efficient management across watersheds. By 1920, Colorado had over 70 water districts organized into seven irrigation divisions, reflecting the growing complexity of managing water in a semi-arid state. These divisions mirrored the major river basins, including the Arkansas, Colorado, Rio Grande, and South Platte, and accounted for the state’s varied topography and climate. 

Rarity

The map is apparently quite rare on the market.  This is the first example we have seen.

The map was issued in the Fourteenth biennial report of the State Engineer to the Governor of Colorado, published in 1908.

OCLC locates 1 example of the map (Denver Public Library).j

OCLC locates 5 examples of the report.