The Central Colorado Conservancy is inviting the community to their Hands for Lands volunteer work party from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Kelly Ranch. Volunteers will help clean out the Cottonwood-Maxwell ditch in preparation for the agricultural irrigation season. This is one big ditch and many hands will be needed.
Participants are asked to RSVP so organizers can plan accordingly.
What Hands for Lands does
Volunteers helping the Kelly Ranch prepare the Cottonwood-Maxwell ditch for the irritation season. Photo courtesy Central Colorado Conservancy archives
The Hands for Lands program educates community members about the importance of working lands and the local agricultural economy and links volunteers with local farmers and ranchers to implement on-the-ground stewardship projects, including but not limited to irrigation ditch maintenance, old fence removal, noxious weed removal, and reseeding rangeland.
The Conservancy is committed to implementing programs that build agricultural resilience, supporting Chaffee County’s agricultural producers as they face the impacts of climate change and unprecedented growth and development.
Hands for Lands enhances the economic viability and longevity of working agricultural lands by providing volunteer labor to help with tasks that are otherwise cost and labor-intensive.
About the Kelly Ranch
The Kelly Ranch, located south and west of Buena Vista, has been in the Kelly family for five generations. This gorgeous ranch is along Maxwell Creek and has several natural springs and roughly 40 acres of wetlands, providing important habitat. A unique type of wetland called a fen exists on the property.
Fens are peat-forming wetlands that depend on groundwater inputs. They are excellent water purifiers and the fen on the Kelly Ranch provides nesting habitat for water birds. A large population of lesser bladderwort, a tiny, carnivorous plant thrives in the fen and is considered one of the largest known occurrences of the plant in Colorado.
The Kelly’s have permanently protected the ranch with a conservation easement that also ties their water to the land. They also participate in the Community Conservation Connection program that Central Colorado Conservancy launched with support from Chaffee Common Ground.
Key information for the work party
- Volunteers should arrive by 9:00 a.m. for check-in.
- Organizers will then deploy groups along the Cottonwood-Maxwell Ditch, which is more than five miles long.
- Coffee and snacks will be provided in the morning, and lunch will be served.
- What to wear and bring: While the days are getting warmer, be prepared for a range of weather conditions.
- Wear long pants and closed-toe, sturdy shoes.
- Dress in layers and bring water and sun protection.
- If you have rubber boots, bring them.
- Organizers will have tools and gloves for everyone, but you’re welcome to bring your own.
- Loppers and pitchforks can be especially helpful.
For directions and to RSVP, please visit: https://bit.ly/RSVP_KellyRanch_April27.
Featured image: The 389-acre Kelly Ranch was placed under a conservation easement in 2011, protecting it from development in perpetuity. Image Courtesy Chaffee Common Ground.
Editor’s Note: Kelly Ranch’s Suzy Kelly writes the History Lives column for Ark Valley Voice, and serves on the board of the Buena Vista Heritage Museum.
Recent Comments