Agriculture

The lower third of the Big Dry Creek watershed is dominated by agricultural uses, including corn, alfalfa and winter wheat crops as well as pastureland for both beef and dairy cattle.  Several ditches divert water from the stream to support crops, with some of the major ditches including Bull Canal, German Ditch, Yoxall Ditch and Thompson Ditch. The Lupton Bottoms ditch in the lower portion of the watershed carries water from the South Platte to Big Dry Creek and diverts the imported water from the creek for agricultural uses. 

Under Colorado’s Regulation 85 Nutrients Management Control Regulation, there is increased focus on reducing nutrient loading to streams both from point source discharges such as wastewater treatment plants, but also for non-point source discharges from agriculture. Colorado State University provides excellent resources for agricultural producers related to nutrient management in its Colorado Ag Nutrient Clearinghouse.