Who lives here

This pond was once part of the South Platte River. In June 1965, unexpected torrential rains caused the Platte River to flood, causing significant flooding damage to surrounding areas. In response to this catastrophic event, the Core of Engineers created a permanent channel to draw water away from the river, leading to the construction of Chatfield Dam and Chatfield Reservoir. Construction on this project begin in 1967 and was completed in 1975. This construction and diversion of the river created the habitat before you. This area provides an important habitat for fish and wildlife. Here at Hudson Gardens, you might see a variety of animals from birds to fish to insects. Birds include a multitude of ducks, red-wing blackbirds, and herons, among others. If you look closely in the water, you might see grass carp along with frogs in various life cycle stages. Insects are aplenty with dragonflies and damselflies being the most abundant; both are also natural predators of mosquitoes. Of course, other animals visit this pond; if you are lucky, you might see a muskrat, fox, or even a beaver. Cattails are abundant in the pond, and cottonwood and willow trees rim the wetland. In the summer duckweed, the smallest freshwater plant, will appear on the surface of the water offering shade to the aquatic animals and mineral removal for the water.