Eastern Mojave Vegetation Welch Ditch, Jefferson County, Colorado  
 

Tom Schweich  

Home Page  The Welch Ditch, which first carried water in 1871, was constructed to supply water to Colorado School of Mines when the school was located at the current Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center. It was later extended as far as Smith Reservoir near the intersection of Kipling Park was and West Jewell Avenue.
 

Head Gate.

The plan is to install a suspension bridge from the head gate across to the Peaks to Plains Trail.

Other articles:
• Peaks to Plains Trail:  at suspension bridge;
• Field Notes:   14 Sep 2021;
Full Size ImageWelch Ditch Bridge  

Suspension Bridge

Connecting the Peaks to Plains Trail to the Welch Ditch.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   14 May 2023;
Full Size ImageViola canadensis beside the Welch Ditch.  

Viola canadensis nestled up against the wooden side of the ditch (I guess it's actually a flume at this point.)

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   14 May 2023;
Full Size ImageCascade coming from Windy Saddle.  

One of several cascades running in mid-May 2023.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageCommemorative Plaque for resonstruction of the Welch Ditch, 1932.  

The Golden Canal and Reservoir Company

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageHops vines and cones on a Douglas fir.  

Douglas fir above the trail with vine and cones of hops.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageJunk car along the ditch.  

Junk car along the ditch. Did it crash from Lookout Mountain Road above?

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 3199, 29 Aug 2023;
Full Size ImageColl. No. 3199, Humulus neomexicanus on the Welch Ditch.  

Hops.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageGate on the Welch Ditch.  

Gate

Other articles:
• Peaks to Plains Trail:   at stairs;
• Field Notes:  29 Mar 2024;
Full Size ImageStairs between Peaks to Plains Trail and the Welch Ditch.  

Stairs down to Peaks-to-Plains Trail

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   23 Sep 2021;
Full Size ImageRattlesnake in the Welch Ditch.  

Rattlesnake in the ditch.

 

Waste gate.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 2311, 3 Jun 2020;  

Jamesia americana on the cliff above the trail.

 

Narrow steep scramble above the trail.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20210408;
Full Size ImageHornwort on cliff at Welch Ditch  

Small hornwort on cliff.

Other articles:
• Climbing Access Trail:   at Welch Ditch;  

Junction: JCOS Climbing Acess Trail

Take this trail to go down to the Peaks to Plains Trail and cross the Grant Terry Bridge.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 2315, 3 Jun 2020;
Full Size ImageWhere I found Cotoneaster lucidus … thanks to Cindy.
Full Size ImageColl. No. 2315, Cotoneaster lucidus  

Unnamed gulch with flume for gulch runoff.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 2316, 3 Jun 2020;
Full Size ImageHesperis matronalis in the ditch.
Full Size ImageWhat the well-dressed botanist wears while chasing noxious weeds in the grass.  

Location of Coll. No. 2316, Hesperis matronalis

 
Golden s.l. below.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 2451, 5 May 2021;  Coll. No. 2452, 5 May 2021;
Full Size ImageColl. No. 2451, Acer negundo
Full Size ImageFlower of Coll. No. 2452, Acer glabrum  

Plants of Jefferson County Open Space
Jefferson County, Colorado
Sapindaceae

Acer negundo L.  Box Elder Maple.

Clear Creek, Jefferson County, Colorado. Mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, south side of the canyon, i.e., north-facing slopes, along the Welch Ditch, on berm of ditch, 2.2 km. west of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7519°N, 105.2403°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1777 m. Staminate flowers. Collection location is in both Golden s.l. and Clear Creek Canyon Park of Jefferson County Open Space. Variety interius if infraspecific names are to be applied.

Collected by permit: Jefferson County Open Space, 2021, issued: Apr 1, 2021, to: Tom Schweich.

Tom Schweich 2451. 5-May-2021

Full Size Image
Emerging leaves and inflorescence of Coll. No. 2452, Acer glabrum
Full Size Image
Coll. No. 2452, Acer glabrum

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  3 Jun 2020;

Locations: Welch Ditch.
Full Size ImageGolden from the Welch Ditch.  

Jefferson County above …


Concrete lid at scree slope.


City of Golden below …

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  Coll. No. 2318, 3 Jun 2020;  

Holodiscus

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20210408;
Full Size ImageWaste gate on Welch Ditch.  

Waste Gate

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  3 Jun 2020;
Full Size ImageLots to see in this photo.  

Intersection of US 6, CO 58 and CO 93.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  29 May 2022;
Full Size ImageEvolvulus nuttallianus seen along the Welch Ditch  

Dirt access road.

Other articles:
• Chimney Gulch Trail:   at junction;  

Junction: Chimney Gulch Trail

 

Cross under US Highway 6

 

Cross under Illinois Street

 

Cross under S. Golden Rd

 

Leave Golden city limits

 

Cross under I-70

 

Smith Reservoir

If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.  


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Date and time this article was prepared: 11/3/2024 5:26:00 PM