PROJ00465

• Contract/PO #: C153530
• Contractor Name: DeWeese-Dye Ditch and Reservoir Company
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 12
• County: Custer
• Bill Number: SB 88-30
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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a. History of or~anization

The DeWeese Dye Ditch & Reservoir Company was started by Dal I DeWeese
and C.R.C. Dye In the late 18~~'s. Dall DeWeese bought out water rights
beginning February Z8, 1866. He accumulated 19 decrees in al I, and the
ditch company has rights to 31.85 cfs of water. C.R.C. Dye and Dal'
DeWeese began construction of the DeWeese Dye Ditch In 1896. The main
purpose was to develop agricultural land, so they purchased 1,~~0 acres
and named the area Lincoln Park. They subdivided 5~~ acres for sale as
smal I farm plots and kept 5~~ acres to develop a nursery that would be a
part of Mr. DeWeese's Rocky Mountain Nurseries. They bui It a dam cal led
DeWeese Reservoir in Custer County near Westcllffe, which stored water
for Irrigation. Produce from Lincoln Park was sold in the surrounding
communities. Cripple Creek and Victor were maJor beneficiaries of the
fresh apples and vegetables during mining activities at the turn of the
century.

Present use Is stl' I orchards and alfalfa plots with numerous smal I land
parcels being used for truck crops. The DeWeese Dye Ditch & Reservoir
Company has played a maJor role In the development of Fremont County and
continues to have an Impact.

Presently the DeWeese Dye Ditch & Reservoir Company has 747 shareholders
who own 7,Z50 shares of water and irrigate 1,1~~ (m/I)-acres of land.
The company can deliver Z4-Z6 cfs of water In most years, and has pumped

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