Join Us to Protect Canyon Creek

We are specifically interested in Nutrient Farm’s Proposal to take nearly 9cfs of water, year round from Canyon Creek. A NEW draw of this magnitude has the potential to “sweep the creek” and current data indicates that increasing drought and climate change will stress the creek more than it already is. We are not convinced that maintenance and management of the historic ditch structure or historic consumptive use would be effective, accurate, respectful or consistent since there is no history of success that we can find.

• Irreversible damage to the ecosystem, existing conservation easements, fish, riparian, and wildlife
• Increase fire risk for all
• Detrimental impacts on our water table, wells, and irrigation sources
• Decreased Property Values
• Destabilization of roads/hillsides – boring under Interstate 70 and railroads causing mudslides and rockfall

Disclaimer
*Important- We are a group of concerned citizens with various skills and interests who have been researching, analyzing and evaluating numerous sources of information to assemble a clear and concise explanation for our concerns regarding major issues and contributing factors impacting the health and sustainability of the Canyon Creek watershed. We continue to make every effort to use the best of our intentions and abilities to gather information, studies, and documents from sources and experts such as state, county, community and non-profit organizations, as well as historical documents from land owners, previous land owners and current developers associated with water from the Canyon Creek water shed. We care deeply about the accuracy and complexity of this information and seek to always address questions through direct contact and personal meetings. We encourage readers to formulate your own thoughts, opinions and feedback concerning any information you gather from this site, and to reach out with clarification, information or corrections when concerned with accuracy. We cannot possibly present or contain all relevant information without the assistance and help of the community, and we thank you in advance for your help, and your understanding as we continue to access pertinent information, and update any details as our research continues.*

The challenges of the Vulcan Ditch were apparent early on. Despite a significant enlargement in 1952, which increased the capacity from 6 cubic feet per second (cfs) to an additional 4 cfs, the ditch struggled to function as intended. It snaked through riparian areas, steep canyons, and fragile burn scars—encountering rockslides, floods, leaks, and blowouts along its length. These complications made it difficult to consistently irrigate the land south of the Colorado River.

New Owners tried to expand the community on the South Side of the Colorado River, in the 70s and when the community wasn’t built, Storm King Mines added even more alternate points of diversion to the Colorado River for easier access than from the old and leaking ditch structure. Throughout numerous unsuccessful business ventures, the small water pumps along the Colorado River stopped and started throughout the decades, never providing Historical Consumption that met the diversion records from the headgate almost two miles away.

During the 1990s, wildfires became more frequent in the Canyon Creek area, leaving burn scars across the steep hillsides. These fires further destabilized the land, exacerbating the ditch’s ongoing issues. Without proper maintenance, the Vulcan Ditch began to leak, causing damage to County Roads, homes, and personal property. The already unstable terrain became even more vulnerable, with soil, rocks, and mud frequently falling down the slopes​.

In 2018, Nutrient Farms purchased 1,136 acres on the South Side of the Colorado River, sparking new concerns for the community. Their proposed development plan, which included drawing water from Canyon Creek, raised alarms about the potential dewatering of the creek—a vital resource for the local ecosystem and residents​

In 2020, Nutrient Farms submitted a Water Adequacy Report, which proposed extracting nearly 9 cfs of water from Canyon Creek. The report brought to light serious concerns about the sustainability of this plan, particularly in light of increasing drought conditions in the region. Residents feared that such a large draw would critically impact Canyon Creek’s fragile water supply​.

Your voice matters! Participate in local planning meetings and advocate for sustainable development practices to ensure the future of Canyon Creek. Together, we can make a difference.