Del Rio Pond

The pond is currently maintained by having Verde River water pumped in to offset losses to evaporation, which is allowed under a permit granted in the 1970s through the Cottonwood Ditch Association, which holds the water rights.

The Cottonwood Ditch Association’s claimed priority date for its surface water rights to the Verde River is Dec. 10, 1877. The 1869 diversion originally was opposite Pecks Lake at the Old Government Dam and the ditch extended through ranches on the west side of the Verde River and what is now the city of Cottonwood and the unincorporated area of Bridgeport.

The Cottonwood Ditch Association maintains the eight-mile-long irrigation ditch, which provides irrigation water to 843.5 acres of farms, ranches and the pond. Each acre is entitled to a pro rata share of the 8,000 acre-feet annually diverted from the Verde River.

The Cottonwood Ditch Association informed the VVCC in June 2022 that it would no longer supply water for non-agricultural uses effective three years from the notice date and formalized the notice in January 2023.

At the VVCC’s request, a three-year extension was granted in January 2024, setting the final deadline for water cessation in 2028.

The Cottonwood Ditch Association is governed by a board consisting of President and Ditch Boss Andy Grosetta, Vice President David Mongini, Secretary and Treasurer Bill Wade and board members Bob DeGeer, Judd Wasden and Mary Beth Grosetta.

Waterfowl

The Del Rio Pond hosts a wide variety of ducks and geese and migrating birds stop by seasonally.

It is said that ducks prefer the pond to Dead Horse State Park lagoons because the pond is murky and the lagoons are too clean.

Over the years, domestic ducks have been dropped off at the pond by people who no longer wanted them. They could not support themselves and volunteers would feed them. They could not fly away because they are domestic, and have interbred with wild ducks, making a hybrid that also cannot support itself.

In 2024, volunteers were able to remove and rehome all the domestic ducks, leaving only the wild ones.

Fish in the Pond

Fishermen catch a wide variety of fish in the pond, yet the invasive species of carp and catfish are predominant. The pond has never been stocked with fish.

Since the pond is private property, no fishing license is required to fish here.

Visitors are welcome to fish dawn to dusk, the hours the pond is open to the public.

In 2023, the VVCC sponsored a catch-and-release Youth Fishing Tournament. Participants did not pay a fee to enter, and competed for prizes for Most Fish Caught, Largest Catfish, and Largest Carp. See photos of the tournament at vvcc.life/2023-events.

The Verde Valley has a rich history of agriculture that continues to this day. Farms and ranches of various sizes dot the landscape. Some who own property in the Verde Valley keep animals, tend gardens or farms, and irrigate lush lawns and large trees. But landowners and potential landowners—especially those looking at irrigated properties—should be aware of some basic laws regarding water rights.
Just because a property does irrigate may not mean it has the legal right to do so or that the use will be recognized in the future. For many reasons, there remains uncertainty about the use of surface water from creeks and rivers and even well water on properties throughout Arizona. By understanding some of the basic laws around surface water, you should be able to better evaluate risks and uncertainties associated with a particular water use.

Download the pdf “Surface Water Rights” from the Cottonwood Ditch Association website for more detailed information.