Although the Cache la Poudre River is a small river, it has played a pivotal role in the development of the Colorado System of Water Law that evolved during the second half of the 19th century. One of the key aspects of this legal system is its emphasis on prior appropriation as the main factor in determining water rights. Being first in time means you are first in right. Awareness of the historic process behind water allocation procedures is crucial to understanding how water law operates today in most of the western United States .

The Cache la Poudre River is also associated with innovations in water delivery and measurement systems. Heritage Area resources, such as Greeley No. 3 Ditch, have been determined to be nationally significant. One of the most notable is the Bellvue Hydrological Laboratory where Ralph Parshall conducted his research in the 1920s to develop an effective and efficient water measuring device, an essential tool to implement the provisions of Colorado Water Law.