Watershed Work Plan for Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention West Cherry Creek Watershed

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- 6 - for the production of hay crops. Many of the stockwater ponds on tributary streams have been subjected to moderate to high losses in storage capacity from sedimentation. Location of sediment and erosion damage areas are shown on the Problem Location Map., Figure 1. Critical amounts of sediment are produced in certain upstream tributaries where active channel headcuts are advancing through the remaining upstream areas. Erosion Damage ` With the exception of small areas of critical erosion, the erosion rate in the watershed ranges from low to moderate on range land and moderate to severe on cropland. Approximately 10 per cent of the watershed area consists of unterraced., mostly bare cropland, abandoned cropland, and range land that is being progressively damaged by gully and sheet erosion. Sixteen and one - half per cent of the watershed area is privately -owned woodland and brushland which is situated on the higher elevations which form the headwaters of West Cherry Creek. Parts of this area are being eroded as a result of poor forest management practices. Severe erosion damage is occurring along West Cherry Creek and some of the tributaries as a result of channel entrenchment and channel widening. Channel trenching causes a lowering of the water table in subirrigated meadows. Lowering of the water table results in a considerable reduction of yield from these meadows. The process of channel trenching has been occurring intermittently along the main valley of West Cherry Creek. Reaches of deep channeling about one mile in length alternate with reaches of meadow areas with little or no channel. Without treatment, it is expected that deep channels will cut through the remaining meadow areas. As this process continues., channel widening through streambank erosion and scouring will become a more important factor in land loss. Similar channel entrenchment is occurring on several of the tributaries to West Cherry Creek. This process on the tributaries is still in an early stage and much additional valuable land will be lost without structural grade stabilizing measures at the head of the channel cuts. Problems Relating to Water Management No individual landowner or group of landowners has indicated an interest in providing additional capacity in any of the floodwater- retarding structures for irrigation., municipal or industrial uses, or recreational and wildlife purposes. Water for irrigation is obtained from direct diversions. The sponsors requested a meeting to inform downstream irrigation interests as to the need for and the value of the project to the South Platte River Basin. At a meeting in Brighton, Colorado., June 17, 1958s the Directors of the Consolidated Ditches Company of Water District No. 2, South Platte River Basin, Colorado., approved the flood protection program for the T.Jest Cherry Creek Watershed as presented to them by representatives of the sponsors and Soil Conservation Service and as proposed in this work plan.