Joseph,
You may receive more views/responses if you post this elsewhere (you have posted in the Pets & Animals topic).
In the meantime, have you seen this Folsom Telegraph article?
Tuesday Oct 28 2008
From the Depths: Pioneer spirit
Mormon Island company played vital role in supplying regions water
By: Don Chaddock, The Telegraph
The remains of a 155-year-old water delivery system are emerging from the murky waters of Folsom Lake and for some former residents the old canals and ditches are bringing back memories. In 1851, Amos P. Catlin and a few others organized a loose association of mining companies to supply water to the miners, wineries and ranches springing up along the banks of the South Fork of the American River, according to materials supplied by the Folsom History Museum. By 1853, the Natoma Company had constructed 16 miles of canals and ditches to divert water from the river, particularly from upriver at the Salmon Falls area, and carry it to Mormon Island and Prairie City. A year later, their canals had reached Negro Bar. Some of these same canals and ditches can now be seen as Folsom Lakes level continues to drop. Jim Davies, 75, who resided beside the Natoma Ditch at Red Bank while growing up, said the ditch was used as a water supply even as late as the 1940s. The ditch is sometimes referred to as the Natomas Ditch because of the ever-changing name of the company that owned and operated it. Every one who lived near the ditch used it for bathing, he said.
Continued at:
http://www.folsomtel...-pioneer-spirit
