Initial Funding Secured for Del Monte Ditch Project in Poncha Springs

Above the town of Poncha Springs, the Del Monte Ditch diverts water from Poncha Creek, a tributary of the South Arkansas River. The ditch carries irrigation water nearly four miles to the Hutchinson Ranch, an 800 acre property protected from development in perpetuity by conservation easements held by the Central Colorado Conservancy and the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust. The ranch is an incredible local resource for everyone in the valley.

Members of the Hutchinson family hand dug the ditch in 1881 and while they've worked hard to maintain the ditch over the last 145 years, the ditch needs vital repairs to continue carrying water successfully and maintain the ditch water rights. The UAWP Del Monte Ditch Project will address several of the most vital issues this winter. The improvements will include installing two rock vanes in Poncha Creek as well as a new head gate to improve the diversion. This will eliminate the need to maintain the old pushed-up rock diversion structure that washes out every year at high water. Farther down the ditch, work will include installing a new trash gate and rock flume to keep debris out of the ditch, reduce erosion and return water to Poncha Creek more successfully. Finally, the project will pipe a short section of the ditch to address sedimentation caused by runoff from the mountainside above, and install a new measuring gauge to allow the ranch and external water agencies to accurately measure the exact amount of water being diverted from the ditch.

Funding for approximately 60% of the project costs have now been secured by a grant from the Chaffee County Common Ground Fund ($47,500) and funds/materials provided by the Hutchinson Ranch ($22,500). The Common Ground grant has made it possible for us to start the work this winter. We've also applied for additional grants to cover the remainder of the project cost and we'll find out if these are successful in the next few months.

These irrigation infrastructure improvement projects have become very expensive as the cost of materials and installation continue to increase. However, the UAWP believes projects like this are vital to protecting water rights and working lands in the Upper Arkansas River watershed. The work not only helps the agricultural community, but the water flowing through these irrigation ditches also benefits our community in many other ways . Two of the most visible ways - seepage creates green zones through the high altitude desert and homeowners enjoy these green corridors and views, the ditch provides an important water source for wildlife in what has been recognized as a vital wildlife migration corridor by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Please send us any comments or questions about this project or other UAWP work - info@uawp.org. Thanks!