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One of the historic community-oriented traditions on Silver Lake Ditch is the annual "Walking the Water Down" event on opening day. As water flows across the dry bed of the ditch, which last saw moving water perhaps eight months prior, it is quickly absorbed into the soil and rocks, but with the volume we push through it also just as quickly flows downhill, picking up months' worth of fallen leaves, limbs, and other debris. This requires a herculean effort on the part of the community volunteers to lead the water down while clearing the accumulating obstacles. This video is 2 minutes and 22 seconds long. |
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Since Silver Lake Ditch traverses some pretty wild country as it comes down into town from high in Boulder Canyon, it is prone to tree falls, rock falls, and other natural events. When boulders fall into the ditch, work parties are formed, and it takes a great group effort to clear the path for the coming water. Rather than fight gravity by lifting and moving the boulders, we cradle them into the ditch bank where they provide future armament and reinforcement against the scouring effects of the flowing water. This video is 35 seconds long. |
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The Silver Lake Ditch is unique in several ways, but for me, one of the most interesting and striking aspects is the extreme engineering that went into its creation. For reasons too long to explain here, the headgate where the water was diverted to the ditch from Boulder Creek had to be located very far from town, high up in the canyon. And to get the water to flow downhill fast enough, but not too fast, they had to build in some elevated structures on the canyon walls, and even divert through a million-year-old natural fault tunnel. Here's what that looks like. This video is 2 minutes and 53 seconds long. |
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This is a video of the tunnel when the ditch is open and water is flowing. Quite a bit more intense this way. This video is 37 seconds long |
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This herd of deer has grown accustomed to seeing the Ditch Rider every morning, just after 6 AM. After awhile, once they begin to recognize you, they become much more relaxed and welcoming. This video is 29 seconds long. |
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Working as a Ditch Rider on the Silver Lake Ditch has its moments. I used to be awed by the occasional bear sighting, but after a season of working the dawn and dusk shifts on the Wildland-Urban Interface, that excitement has lessened. Now I'm more surprised if a day goes by when I don't stumble across a bear or two. And as we approached hibernation season, they are out in force. Here's a best-of compilation from the 2025 season. This video is 3 minutes and 43 seconds long.
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This video gives you an idea of the wide variety of terrains the Silver Lake Ditch flows through. From wild mountainsides, to urban backyards, to lush meadows. This also gives you an idea of the lush ecosystem that thrives in the flowing water of the ditch. This video is 48 seconds long. |
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This is a humorous time-lapse video of what the regular morning and evening rounds of a ditch rider look like. We no longer ride horses or carry guns; now we ride bikes and carry bear spray. This video is 4 minutes and 35 seconds long. |
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This is an underwater look at the challenges with keeping the SLD Headgate on Boulder Creek clear and functioning. The opening at the headgate must be precisely controlled to maintain the correct water level in the ditch at all times. We are allowed to take no more than three cfs (cubic feet per second) from the creek. Maintaining that precise flow is a challenge, since the creek fluctuates wildly throughout the day, and throughout the season. Here you can see the issue with debris clogging thre gate, as well as the camera being buffeted by the force of the water. This video is 42 seconds long. |
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Trail Cameras
There are several trail cameras on the ditch near the North Linden Lateral gate. This section of the ditch is heavily used as a wildlife corridor because it lies in a nicely wooded area between Linden Avenue and Wonderland Hill Avenue, just above the lake in Maxwell Park.
These trail cameras are maintained by a local resident who frequently posts photos and videos on the Instagram account @LindenAvenueZoo. Below are some great examples of wildlife traveling and playing along the ditch.
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This is a mother and her two cubs enjoying the ditch one afternoon in August. It's very unusual to see bears out during daylight hours, but they were obviously relaxed enough to take a swim this day. This little cub is annoying her mother, and if you watch carefully at the 15-second point, she delivers a heavy left punch, stunning the playful cub, who then decides to go play with her sibling. |
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Here is a bear after dark, enjoying scratching an itch. This video was taken soon after the ditch was turned off for the season in the fall. You can tell this guy has put on a lot of extra weight during this period of hyperphagia, when they will consume up to 20,000 calories daily, often eating for 20 hours per day, and they can gain up to 20 pounds per week. |
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Here we see two bears interacting by the ditch, not quite sure whether this is fighting or playing. If you listen carefully, you can hear vehicle traffic from the nearby roads. |
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And here we see a large mountain lion strolling by the ditch. |