Near Placerville in El Dorado County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Luse Ditch Flume (1920-1924)

The Luse Ditch Flume Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Karen Key, June 18, 2006

1. The Luse Ditch Flume Marker

Inscription. On this site stood the Luse Ditch Flume carrying water from Placerville to the ranching and mining operations in the eastern Gold Hill area. The ditch and flume system was managed by George and John Luse from 1920 to 1924. This structure is believed to be the tallest flume built in El Dorado County standing 153 feet high and running 750 feet in length between ridges. Timbers from the immense Doug fir found on site supported the flume.

The Foothill Ranching and Mining Economy (1860 – 1940)
George and John Luse inherited the extensive ranch first settled by Izaac and Elizabeth Ober in 1860. Survival often meant the pursuit of diverse economic interests. The Luse brothers raised beef and dairy cattle, harvested orchards and vineyards and mined a gold claim within the American River canyon immediately east to this monument. Ditch water was required to support all of these enterprises.

A Gift of Forested Land
This site and the 131 acre forest to the east was gifted by Richard and Arlene Wilkinson to the American River Conservancy on September 24, 1999 so that the land would be preserved for wildlife habitat and educational purposes. Having been ranched and mined, these forested lands have been reclaimed by nature and now support an extensive and diverse

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

array of flora and fauna.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1827.

Location. 38° 45.602′ N, 120° 50.544′ W. Marker is near Placerville, California, in El Dorado County. It is at the intersection of Coloma Road (State Highway 49) and Red Shack Oak Road on Coloma Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1587 Golden Chain Highway, Placerville CA 95667, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Gold Country,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: El Dorado County Veterans Monument (approx. 2.4 miles away); Cemetery of Lost Souls (approx. 2½ miles away); The Stamp Mill (approx. 2½ miles away); Hangtown’s Gold Bug Park (approx. 2.6 miles away); Gold Bug, A Neighborhood Mine (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Placerville.

Photographed by Karen Key, June 18, 2006

2. The Luse Ditch Flume Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2006, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 3,608 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2006, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.