National Register of Historic Places

Grand River Ditch

Grand Lake, Grand County, Colorado
Listed
September 28, 1976
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76000218

About this property

The Grand Ditch, also known as the Grand River Ditch and originally known as the North Grand River Ditch, is a water diversion project in the Never Summer Mountains, in northern Colorado in the United States. It is 14.3 miles (23.0 km) long, 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, and 3 feet (0.91 m) deep on average. Streams and creeks that flow from the highest peaks of the Never Summer Mountains are diverted into the ditch, which flows over the Continental Divide at La Poudre Pass at 10,175 feet (3,101 m), delivering the water into Long Draw Reservoir and the Cache La Poudre River for eastern plains farmers. The water would otherwise have gone into the Colorado River (formerly known as the "Grand River", from which the name of the ditch is derived) that flows west towards the Pacific; instead, the Cache La Poudre River goes east and through the Mississippi River discharges into the Gulf of Mexico. The ditch was started in 1890 and wasn't completed until 1936. The ditch diverts between 20 and 40% of the runoff from the Never Summer Mountains, and delivers an average of 20,000 acre-feet (25,000,000 m3). It significantly impacts the ecology in the valley below and the National Park Service has fought in court to reduce the amount of diverted water.

Location

Grand Lake, Grand County, Colorado
40.41864, -105.86137

Categories

ENGINEERING
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Grand River Ditch

This page lists Grand River Ditch. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Grand River Ditch report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Dutchtown
Listed
1.7 mi
Lulu City Site
Listed
1.8 mi
Milner Pass Road Camp Mess Hall and House
Civil War
2.4 mi
Timber Creek Campground Comfort Station No. 245
Industrial
2.7 mi
Timber Creek Campground Comfort Station No. 246
Industrial
2.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Grand River Ditch listed on the National Register?

Grand River Ditch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Grand River Ditch?

Grand River Ditch is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Grand River Ditch?

The period of significance for Grand River Ditch is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Grand River Ditch?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Grand River Ditch will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Grand County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Grand County.

Explore GrandCounty ›

More historic places in Colorado

Browse all historic places in Colorado.

View Coloradohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Colorado history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Coloradohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Grand River Ditch will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report