PROJ00454 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

6 Feasibility Report for Dam Safety Modifications to DeWeese Dam April 22, 1997 Ditches and Laterals: The Company owns 35 miles of main ditch and laterals, which it operates and maintains, The ditch system is currently sized for a flow capacity of 26 cfs, The Company has future plans to increase the capacity of the system in order to use its entire 31,85 cfs of direct flow water rights, Real Estate: The Company owns a total of about 1,061 acres in both Custer and Fremont Counties. Service Area The area served by the Company's irrigation system is located on the south side of Canon City in Fremont County, 42 miles southwest of Colorado Springs on Highway 115, and 38 miles west of Pueblo on Highway 50. The system serves an unincorporated area known as Lincoln Park. The elevation of the area is approximately 5400 feet above mean sea level. Figure 4 shows the Company's service area and its relation to Canon City and the State of Colorado. Produce from the Lincoln Park area has historically been sold in the surrounding communities. During mining activities at the turn of the century, Cripple Creek and Victor were the major beneficiaries of the fresh apples and vegetables produced at Lincoln Park, Today, irrigation water delivered by the Company is used for agricultural and livestock production, orchards, truck gardens, and private gardens. Meat, milk, fruits and vegetables are produced by shareholders for the local (Canon City) market. Fruits and vegetables are also produced for market in Pueblo, Agricultural products include alfalfa, apples, cherries, pears, grapes, pumpkins, squash, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, beans and peas, Water delivered by the Company is also used to irrigate lawns and flower gardens, Commercially, this includes two area cemeteries and several churches, Individually, the property values of dozens of homes in the Canon City area are sustained because of the ability to maintain attractive lawns and gardens, The service area has a typical growing season of 164 days and a mean annual temperature of 54,9 degrees Fahrenheit. Average annual precipitation for the area is 12,5 inches, including snowfall. As a result, the productivity of the service area is highly dependent on runoff from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the west and the Wet Mountains to the east. The soils of the Lincoln Park area are deep and very fertile, The area is slowly being subdivided into smaller parcels, but individuals within the Company still raise a variety of crops for local and regional markets, <<Ii GEl Consultants, Inc. 96006\REPORTS\FEAS\TEXT.NEW I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I