high confidence
Claim Details
- Filed
- April 06, 1915
- Recorded
- April 06, 1915
- Recorder
- T.H. Ballard
- Type
- Appropriation And Reservoir
Water Source
- Source
- Cow Head Lake (also known as Pelican Lake) (Briggs filing)
- Purpose
- Irrigation
- Diversion
- Dam, Tunnel, Canals, And Laterals
Use Location
Bench and bottom land north of and east of Upper and Middle Lakes in Surprise Valley, Modoc County, and adjacent thereto
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 1412. 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 Pelican or Cow Head Lake in Modoc county, California.
Source Photos
From: Modoc County Water Claims Book 2
— Page 292
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Notes: MAJOR PLOT TWIST in Cow Head Lake saga! Fred H. Briggs — who was Ayres's WITNESS on filings 1-7 — is now the LOCATOR (claimant) himself! IDENTICAL infrastructure to all Ayres filings: 125,000 acre feet, 35-ft dam, tunnel 6x7 ft, ditches 18x6 and 32x8 ft. Same superseding language. Filed at request of BANK OF FORT BIDWELL — suggesting financial institution involvement (loan collateral? assignment? foreclosure?). Witness John Lang (new witness, not Ayres or wife). Dated April 3, 1915. Filed April 6. This may indicate Ayres transferred the claim to Briggs/the bank, or Briggs was always a co-investor. The bank's involvement suggests this project had real financial backing.