Historic Resource Evaluation Project - Tuolumne Utilities District

Figure 23. Wallace’s undated construction plans for the Union Flume. (Courtesy of the
Columbia State Historic Park Archives.)
transported it down a gulch to the Dondero Mine, a distance of 2.02 miles (Rhodin 1916).
Southerly, the Sawmill Flat Flume and Ditch, from Yankee Hill to below Sawmill Flat,
was still in use in 1901 (Deed Book 46:417, 520).
By 1916 the Main Columbia Ditch was described as taking water directly from the Main
Ditch at Big Hill Camp and carrying it to Columbia and vicinity; it was 4.04 miles long,
with an average bottom width of 4½ feet, and in very good condition. At the junction
point above Columbia the supply was distributed into a number of small ditches that
completely encircled the town; all of which, with the exception of the south section
between San Diego Reservoir and Byrd’s Reservoir and Dead Man Ditch, were in
operation either continuously or intermittently. Matelot Reservoir was the most
important in the district and had been in continuous use since 1853. From there water
was carried to Gold Hill Reservoir, from which privately owned mains distributed it to
the town of Columbia. There were six reservoirs in the vicinity, but most of them were
seldom used, owing to the small demand; no mines were operating in the area and with a
small population, water was then needed only in small quantities for irrigation and
domestic supply (Rhodin 1916).
Foothill Resources, Ltd. 4.17 TUD Ditch Sustainability Project
Francis Heritage, LLC
Historic Resource Evaluation Report