Ditch Rules, Policies and Shareholder Responsibilities

All shareholders should understand that it is the local water commissioner that determines the amount of water that all ditches receive during river call, not the board of directors nor the ditch superintendent.

 There are significant charges to reinstate forfeited shares.  

1. Ownership of water rights in Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Company is by stock certificate only.
   Lincoln Park Crooked Ditch Company is responsible for the maintenance of and distribution of water from the main ditch only. The Ditch Supervisor (Rider) is the only person authorized to adjust the flow of water from the main ditch into the laterals.
2. Lateral lines are the responsibility of the shareholders on that lateral. This includes maintenance, repair and replacement.
3. Pumping directly from the main ditches is prohibited. All pumps must be removed from the main ditch and replaced with a sump and head gate. If you have any questions on installation, contact the ditch rider. 
4. Storage of water in tanks or ponds is prohibited.
5. New head gates, sumps or alterations of these on the main ditch must be approved by the board. Contact the ditch rider prior to tapping into the main ditch.
6. Trees and bushes shall not be planted on the ditch easement and volunteer plants must be removed. All vegetation that impedes water flow must be removed by the landowner on either side of the ditch, prior to irrigation turn on date. Please note that Crooked Ditch has a 10-foot easement on each side of the main ditches.
7. Users should not over irrigate and not leave irrigation unattended. Members should make a special effort to work with their neighbors who are on the same lateral to insure all get water.
8. During the annual ditch cleaning (October through March), members should cooperate with the Ditch Superintendent and his crew. Members should clean their laterals at this time.
9. SHAREHOLDERS ARE REMINDED THAT ASSESSMENTS ARE DUE AND PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR. FAILURE TO PAY ASSESSMENTS BY FEBRUARY 1 WILL RESULT IN THE ADDITIONAL COST OF $7.00 MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGES PLUS INTEREST CHARGES AT THE RATE OF ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT PER MONTH FROM THE DATE OF THE ASSESSMENT WHICH IS JANUARY 1.  FAILURE TO PAY THE ASSESSMENTS BY MARCH 1st, INCLUDING INTEREST AND SERVICE CHARGES, WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF SHARES.  THERE ARE IGNIFICANT CHARGES THAT APPLY TO THE REINSTATEMENT OF ANY FORFEITED SHARES.  
10. Shareholders who plan to subdivide their property must submit plans for the redistribution of water shares to the Board of Directors for approval. This is to assure that proper and equitable apportionment of the shares has been made and that proper easements have been provided. If a shareholder sells their property, all of the ditch shares must be transferred to the new owner (administrative fee is $50). In the case of death or divorce (or name change), a stock transfer must be made (administrative fee is $25).
11. Please inform the Ditch Company of all names or mailing address changes.
12. All sales of Lincoln Park property must be transferred through a title company, an attorney, or other legal means in order for the ditch company to properly transfer any ditch shares to the new property owner.