The 18 ponds at Sawhill are the result of a gravel mining operation
and reclamation project.
Boulder Creek, now at the northwestern boundary of the ponds,
has traversed the entire area in the geologic past.
This ancient floodplain laid down great quantities of sand and gravel,
and these deposits were mined for several decades until the early 1970s.
When the mining ceased, groundwater filled the pits
resulting in a wetland area that provides marvelous habitat
for many species of wildlife.
The ponds are stocked by the Colorado Division of Wildlife,
and warm water fishing is a popular activity.