high confidence
Claim Details
- Filed
- February 07, 1914
- Recorded
- February 07, 1914
- Recorder
- T.H. Ballard
- Type
- Appropriation And Reservoir
Water Source
- Source
- Cow Head Lake (also known as Pelican Lake)
- Purpose
- Irrigation
- Diversion
- Dam, Tunnel, Canals, And Laterals
Use Location
Bench and bottom lands north of and east of Upper and Middle Lakes in Surprise Valley, Modoc County
State Database (eWRIMS)
Not in state DB
This water right does not appear in California's eWRIMS database. The holder likely has not filed a Statement of Diversion and Use with the State Water Resources Control Board. Pre-1914 rights are only in eWRIMS if holders voluntarily filed — many have not, making these rights less visible to the state.
Transcription
NOTICE OF APPROPRIATION OF WATER. Sections 1410 to 1422. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of California, respecting water rights the undersigned has appropriated and does hereby appropriate thirty-five feet in depth, it being about One hundred and Twenty-five thousand acre feet of water, all water flowing into, to be diverted into and contained in that certain Lake known as Cow Head or Pelican Lake, in Modoc County, California.
Source Photos
From: Modoc County Water Claims Book 2
— Page 252
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Notes: ENORMOUS claim — 125,000 ACRE FEET from Cow Head/Pelican Lake! This is the same lake that Chas. Kirby Fox claimed 50,000 inches from (page 168) for the Cowhead Lake project via Surprise Valley Land and Irrigation Company. Ayers's claim is COMPETING with Fox's speculative empire. Dam 35 ft high. TUNNEL 6x7 ft through hill — major engineering. TWO ditches: 18x6 ft and 32x8 ft — massive conveyance infrastructure. Delivers to lands near Upper and Middle Lakes in Surprise Valley. Witness Millie M. Ayres (wife — note spelling difference Ayers/Ayres). Dated Feb 2, 1914. Filed Feb 7, 1914.