Recapping Another Successful Season of Hands for Lands Ditch Cleanings

By Heather Mills, Agriculture Program Manager

The 2025 Hands For Lands Ditch Cleaning work parties wrapped up with six events at four properties in Chaffee County throughout April. Volunteers pitched in to help by trimming overgrown willows, raking up debris, clearing tumbleweeds, and removing anything else that had accumulated over the winter and might impede the flow of irrigation water. Irrigation is imperative for ranchers and agriculture in our area, and the benefits ripple out from there.

Spreading water out across the land recharges aquifers and wetlands that provide valuable habitat and adds to the green landscape that makes springtime in the valley so beautiful! 

The work parties began April 12th at the property owned by Wesley and Keith Cooper. Volunteers cleaned up leaves and debris on the Coopers’ orchard and moved up the Boots and Hinton Ditch until its junction with the South Arkansas River. Wesley Cooper has lived on the property for seven decades and has experienced the encroachment of development surrounding his property firsthand. With the help of ten Hands for Lands volunteers, we were able to clear the ditch through the developments that border the property and allow for water to reach his property.

On April 16th and 17th, our Hands for Lands volunteers joined Art and Abby Hutchinson on their ranch to help clean the Del Monte Ditch. The Del Monte Ditch runs for four miles from the headgate on Poncha Creek in Poncha Springs to the Hutchinson Ranch. Volunteers followed the flow down the ditch, helping clear leaves and debris, trimming low branches, and dismantling a massive leaf clog at the pond where the water is eventually collected. A total of 14 volunteers worked on two miles of the Del Monte Ditch beginning near the Little River Ranch neighborhood in Poncha Springs and ending on the Hutchinson Ranch property.

Frenchman’s Creek Ranch north of Buena Vista was a new addition to the Hands for Lands schedule this year. Six volunteers helped to clean the Dryfield Ditch from the headgate on the Arkansas River and along the length of the ditch as it travels along Highway 24 to the ranch. The Frenchman’s Creek Ranch is owned by Belinda and Todd Tipton and volunteers were treated to a history presentation by Belinda, whose family has owned the ranch since the 1940’s. 

Our final two Hands for Lands ditch cleaning work parties were at the Kelly Ranch in Buena Vista. We had a total of 15 volunteers over the weekend. The Kelly Ranch’s main ditch, Maxwell, had been cleaned prior to the events so the groups focused on cleaning ditches closer to the home ranch for the first time which was a treat for participants from past years. Suzy Kelly provided cinnamon rolls both mornings, and Dave and Laura provided a delicious lunch served on their scenic patio. 

Volunteers reported all were gratifying experiences, and they particularly enjoyed seeing the ranches up close and personal. Meeting and connecting with fellow community members and ranching neighbors scored highly in the feedback as well. Overall this was a successful and enjoyable ditch cleaning season for which the landowners are extremely grateful.

Thank you to Chaffee Common Ground for supporting this program and to the wonderful Conservancy volunteers. You rock!