HomeMy WebLinkAbout025 - Appendix U.3 - Ditch Classification Letter
Letter to City of Bozeman RE: South Range Crossing 23020 MSP Ref #130
Dear Mr. Nielson,
On July 19, 2023, the City issued a Staff Report for the MSP setting forth various code provision
requirements. Among these requirements are BMC 410.060.D.1 (Agricultural Water User
Easements) and BMC 38.360.280 (Agricultural Water User Facilities). Both requirements relate
to what have been misidentified as “existing ditch laterals” that traverse the southern and
eastern boundaries of the project site (“Site”).
In a December 9, 2022, “South Range Crossing Agricultural Water User Facilities Memo”
(“Memo”) produced by Morrison Maierle, the ditches were erroneously labeled as a “remnant
private laterals” and depicted as connecting to the Middle Creek Ditch. See Fig. 4, Memo; Fig. 9,
MSP. Neither is true.
The “laterals” are in fact a single drainage ditch (“Drainage Ditch”). The Drainage Ditch is not
connected to Middle Creek Ditch and never has been connected to Middle Creek Ditch.
Available aerial photographs from 1947 through 2021 show no connection between the Middle
Creek Ditch and Drainage Ditch. See Exs. 1-6, attached. Notably, two photographs were taken in
1947 and 1976, placing them near the 1961 Gallatin County Water Resources Survey (“WRS”).
Although the WRS appears to depict the Drainage Ditch, the ditch depicted is a lateral
(“Abandoned Lateral”) from Middle Creek Ditch that once originated in the southwest corner of
the Site and flowed east-northeast to the Site’s eastern boundary, where it then flowed north
along the boundary. See Fig. 2, Memo; Ex. 5, attached. The WRS Field Notes describe the
Abandoned Lateral as using two separate appropriations from two separate sources. See Ex. 7,
attached. One appropriation’s source was Middle Creek Ditch. The second appropriation’s
source was “drainage.” The drainage water was used to supplement water from Middle Creek
Ditch. The drainage water came from what is now Blackwood Groves where it entered the
Drainage Ditch. See Ex. 8, attached. The Drainage Ditch then merged with the Abandoned
Lateral on the Site’s eastern boundary. Ex. 6, attached. Thus, the WRS indicates that the
Drainage Ditch never connected to, or carried, water from Middle Creek Ditch. The Abandoned
Lateral depicted on the WRS was removed from the Site around 2014. P. 2, Memo.
Per BMC 38.410.060.D, easements for agricultural water user facilities are required for “the
delivery of water for irrigation to persons and lands legally entitled to the water under an
appropriated water right or permit….” A search of DNRCs Water Rights Query System shows no
water rights claiming the Drainage Ditch as a source or point of diversion. This means no
statement of claim was filed for the appropriation of “drainage” water described in the WRS.
There being no water rights associated with the Drainage Ditch, no person or land is legally
entitled to use the Drainage Ditch for irrigation, thus no easement for agricultural water user
facilities is required for the Drainage Ditch.
Sincerely,
Parker Lange
SRX, Development Manager
Middle Creek Ditch along 19th AveDark straight line - Drain ditch collecting water from spring /waste & seepage / groundwaterSpring / waste & seepage / groundwaterDitch not evident from Middle Creek Ditch to drain ditch.Continuation of drain ditch2S 5E2324Created 5/18/2023Aerial Imagery: 5/6/1947 USGSGeographic features displayed on the map have not been surveyed by DMS and should not be construed as surveyed.This map includes publicly available data obtained from third-party sources. DMS makes no warranties as to the accuracy of data obtained from third-party sources.μSouth 40 Bozeman, LLCGallatin County, MTInfrastructure Overview194700.10.05MilesWater Flow DirectionExhibit 1
Middle Creek Ditch along 19th AveDark straight line - Drain ditch collecting water from spring /waste & seepage / groundwaterSpring / waste & seepage / groundwaterDitch not evident fromMiddle Creek Ditch to drain ditch.Continuation of drain ditch2S 5E2324Created 5/18/2023Aerial Imagery: 9/5/1976 USGSGeographic features displayed on the map have not been surveyed by DMS and should not be construed as surveyed.This map includes publicly available data obtained from third-party sources. DMS makes no warranties as to the accuracy of data obtained from third-party sources.μSouth 40 Bozeman, LLCGallatin County, MTInfrastructure Overview197600.10.05MilesWater Flow DirectionExhibit 2
Middle Creek Ditch along 19th AveDark straight line - Drain ditch collecting water from spring /waste & seepage / groundwaterSpring / waste & seepage / groundwaterDitch not evident fromMiddle Creek Ditch to drain ditch.Continuation of drain ditchLateral fromMiddle Creek DitchHeadgate on Middle Creek Ditch2S 5E2324Created 5/18/2023Aerial Imagery: 8/24/1981 USGSGeographic features displayed on the map have not been surveyed by DMS and should not be construed as surveyed.This map includes publicly available data obtained from third-party sources. DMS makes no warranties as to the accuracy of data obtained from third-party sources.μSouth 40 Bozeman, LLCGallatin County, MTInfrastructure Overview198100.10.05MilesWater Flow DirectionExhibit 3
Middle Creek Ditch along 19th AveDark straight line - Drain ditch collecting water from spring /waste & seepage / groundwaterSpring / waste & seepage / groundwaterDitch not evident from Middle Creek Ditch to drain ditch.Continuation of drain ditchLateral fromMiddle Creek DitchHeadgate on Middle Creek Ditch2S 5E2324Created 5/18/2023Aerial Imagery: 8/14/1995 GoogleEarthGeographic features displayed on the map have not been surveyed by DMS and should not be construed as surveyed.This map includes publicly available data obtained from third-party sources. DMS makes no warranties as to the accuracy of data obtained from third-party sources.μSouth 40 Bozeman, LLCGallatin County, MTInfrastructure Overview199500.10.05MilesWater Flow DirectionExhibit 4
Middle Creek Ditch along 19th AveDark straight line - Drain ditch collecting water from spring /waste & seepage / groundwaterSpring / waste & seepage / groundwaterDitch not evident from Middle Creek Ditch to drain ditch.Continuation of drain ditchLateral fromMiddle Creek DitchHeadgate on Middle Creek Ditch2S 5E2324Created 5/18/2023Aerial Imagery: 11/16/2003 GoogleEarthGeographic features displayed on the map have not been surveyed by DMS and should not be construed as surveyed.This map includes publicly available data obtained from third-party sources. DMS makes no warranties as to the accuracy of data obtained from third-party sources.μSouth 40 Bozeman, LLCGallatin County, MTInfrastructure Overview200300.10.05MilesWater Flow DirectionExhibit 5
Middle Creek Ditch Dark straight line - Drain ditch collecting water from spring /waste & seepage / groundwaterSpring / waste & seepage / groundwaterDitch not evident from Middle Creek Ditch to drain ditch.Continuation of drain ditchHeadgate on Middle Creek Ditch2S 5E2324Created 5/18/2023Aerial Imagery: 9/30/2021 NAIPGeographic features displayed on the map have not been surveyed by DMS and should not be construed as surveyed.This map includes publicly available data obtained from third-party sources. DMS makes no warranties as to the accuracy of data obtained from third-party sources.μSouth 40 Bozeman, LLCGallatin County, MTInfrastructure Overview202100.10.05MilesWater Flow DirectionExhibit 6
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Exhibit 7
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