EPID  water comes from the  natural flowing Big Butte Creek in Butte Falls . In order to get water, EPID built a diversion point in the early 1920's ( granted water rights in 1915) just outside the city of Butte Falls. From the diversion point, the water flows through 2 fish screens, filtering the fish back into the natural stream. The water then travels through 18 miles of open & underground canals , getting into the luscious green valley of Eagle Point.

Estimated Map , not the exact location of the the EPID Canal

EPID Canal

Willow Lake water flowing into Big Butte Creek

Oregon winters provides plenty of rain/snow during the non-irrigated months (October - March). But we do have hot summers here in Southern Oregon ,causing water levels to drop quickly particularly  in the month of July. So in order to keep the water levels up, water gets released  from the Willow Lake reservoir.

All along the main canal there are gates the ditch rider needs to open to send water to a specific area, all depending on who has water. Below is a map made in the early 1930's showing the properties with some of the ditches the carry water from the main canal to the farm land below. 

Map is from the 1930's