Buckeye Creek flows through the Paradox Valley area of Montrose County, eventually joining with Mellenthin Creek to form West Paradox Creek before emptying into the Dolores River. This tributary system plays a vital role in the local watershed, with water from Buckeye Creek stored in Buckeye Reservoir (capacity 1,600 acre-feet) and used along with natural flows for irrigation in the upper portions of the valley. The creek's flow patterns are significantly influenced by seasonal variations, with high spring runoff and occasional thunderstorms providing the most substantial water volumes. During the irrigation season, excluding these high-flow periods, the creek experiences reduced flows as water is diverted for agricultural use. The surrounding landscape features characteristic Western Colorado terrain, with sagebrush on higher slopes, pinyon-juniper woodlands on the mesas, and mature ponderosa pine forests at higher elevations near the reservoir area at 7,600 feet.