Hugo Ponds

One of many small ponds.  On down the hill the overflow goes to the next pond. 

The small ponds stretch out along the gully
, till they sink into the sand.

The Ponds

Of

Hugo

            Stretching out along a low ridge are scores of springs.  Sometimes it no more than a muddy spot along the rise, other times it is small gurglers.  Water flows along the gullies, creating tiny streams that only disappear back into the sandy soil.  Streams that are but a trickle, a few gush along, tumbling down the hill.  Rivulets to streams over 4 feet wide and almost a foot deep.  On the high plains, most see a desert, so when these little springs roll along most people stare in disbelief.

            Years ago this was great land for grazing cattle.  Here there was good grass and water for the livestock.  The ranchers built dams along the gullies to capture these small amounts of water.  Small ponds formed behind these dams, expanding the habitat for wildlife, providing small oasis on a parched land.  Many of these little streams would be dammed more than once, forming a series of ponds as the water flowed down the hill. 

            This band of streams stretches along a ridge about 10 miles long and 5 miles wide.  Most of the springs are on private land but some years ago, the state was able to acquire a small portion of these spring and streams.  The State Wildlife Area of Hugo Ponds came into existence. With the ponds now being on state land, the wildlife folks began keeping them stocked with fish.  Even when the drought rolled over the land a few years ago, the springs maintained their flow. 

            The ponds are an open area of land, with no improvements, bouncy rutted road, winds out across the buffalo grassland.  Gullies and ponds breaking up the emptiness of the prairie.  There are the few that venture out for fishing, some hunters roam during the seasons and occasionally a walker leaves foot prints. 

            It is a place of peace, tranquility, where one can sit in quietness and meditate.  Sit there and watch the water shimmer, the occasional circle on a mirror surface.  Watch the vastness of land dwarf the soul, let the mind paint the picture of its desires.  

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The small stream tumbles down the hill forming ponds until it disappears into the sandy soil.  To the left can be seen another small stream flowing off the neighbors pasture to join the little ponds.