Mace Ditch Before Improvements

The Mace Ditch is one of our two primary sources of water in our system (the other is the water project pump). We have been working to fulfil a vision where the ditch is more like a creek, and for this reason, we’ve adopted new branding for  it : Mace Creek (highlighted in blue above).

At the end of 2024 we ended the practice of grooming the banks of the ditch, and  invested in bringing in boulders and driftwood along the length of the creek to make it more natural looking.

Construction of Feeder Creeks

In 2025 we added two “feeder creeks” which are recirculating water from the recreation lake (pond 6) back into the creek at two locations, “West Bridge” and “East Bridge” – the two foot bridges that on the paths that connect Back Forty Drive to the nature preserve. See green highlights above. These feeder creeks can be operated year round to keep the creek teaming with wildlife.

In the few months after the feeder creeks were turned on we have observed Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Pike minnows, thousands of mosquito fish (that eat mosquitos) , Bluegill, Carp and Hoghead Sucker Fish. None of these were in our our creek a year ago. In addition to fish, ducks, herons, egrets and other birds are making their homes along the banks of the creek. We even have pictures of deer that have taken a liking to the water in the creek. <pictures of wildlife>.

In the coming budget years, we plan to make additional investments in naturalizing the creek. Things we are considering are access paths through the fescue from homeowner back yards (those who opt in) to the nature trail; and additional small plantings of low growing shrubs and grasses that will not block out views but will help the creek seem even more natural.