The Del Monte Ditch diverts irrigation water from Poncha Creek, a tributary of the South Arkansas River near Poncha Springs. The ditch runs 4 miles from the creek to the Hutchinson Ranch, an 800 acre working cattle ranch located between the mountain towns of Salida and Poncha Springs. Established in 1867, the entire Hutchinson Ranch is protected from development by conservation easements held by the Central Colorado Conservancy and the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust. The ranch and the Hutchinson Family are an incredible asset to the community. 

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Hand dug well over 100 years ago, the Del Monte Ditch needed serious work and the UAWP was able to help the Hutchinsons improve an important section of this ditch by coordinating the effort to create an engineered design, find funding and implement the needed improvements. 

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To improve the ditch, reduce the amount of maintenance needed to maintain the ditch, and allow these ranchers to use their full water right, this project included building a new in-stream diversion, installing a new head gate, rebuilding the wastewater flume, installing a new measuring flume, piping a section to address sedimentation issues, and digging out sections of the ditch that had filled in over time. 

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The finished project looks fantastic and should provide water to the Hutchinson Ranch for many years to come, as well as  helping protect the ranch's valuable water rights.

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The engineered design plans were provided by the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service engineer. Funding for the project was provided by a Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Plan grant (with application assistance and grant management provided by the Colorado Ag Water Alliance), a Chaffee County Common Ground Fund Grant, and monetary contributions from the Hutchinson Ranch. HydroGeo Designs LLC installed the project on the ground. It was a true collaborative effort that the UAWP was proud to be a part of.