Wringing Out a Livelihood

Wringing Out a Livelihood. . By the late 1800s, settlers were already trying to wring a livelihood from the harsh environment in Shell Canyon and the valley below. Average precipitation here is less than ten inches per year and land suitable for cultivated crops is scarce. “Dry farming” ended in dismal failure for early families attempting to carve a life here. , Settling the Land , Buffalo Bill Cody recognized that without irrigation systems the vast arid lands of Wyoming could not attract and support new settlers. He was instrumental in encouraging Mormon families to develop land between Shell Canyon and Cody, Wyoming. Most came from Utah and were already adept in the skills and knowledge necessary to irrigate crops. , Water Rights , The new settlers realized there would not be enough water to irrigate all the fertile land in Shell Valley, and therefore adopted the Appropriation System of water rights. The system recognizes the first ones to establish water rights hold preference over those that follow, until all the water is used. Early water rights are still valid today. , Irrigation Pioneers, Jordan L. Smith brought his family to Shell Valley by ox team. He settled on Shell Creek and established water rights in 1886. Smith constructed the first irrigation ditch where the town of Shell is now located. , (Wasden David J., From Beaver to Oil, 1973) , John Copman was the first settler to run cattle in this area. In 1887, he began irrigating his land with water from Shell Creek. The large rock in front of you was named Copman's Tomb in his memory.