The function of a recharge pond is to collect water and allow that water to percolate into the ground. Rivers and drainage ways carry off water so quickly that it does not have a chance to seep into the ground to replenish or “recharge” the water table. So the pond is built near a ditch and fills from the ditch when that right is in priority. It will also have some fill during high precipitation events. It does not have an outlet, but rather is built open on the bottom, so that the collected water can seep. Pumps may be required to get the water from the ditch, or to move the water from a first pond to a second pond in some cases. Recharge ponds are an efficient, cost effective method of covering river depletion and meeting the requirements of our augmentation plans. Their addition to Central’s water portfolio allows greater flexibility and improved water management.

CCWCD also has recharge projects on the Farmers Independent Ditch, Western Ditch, Platte Valley Irrigation Company, Platteville Irrigating and Milling, Big Thompson Platte River, and Slate Ditch.

Some of the larger recharge projects include: