In 2019, soil samples were collected at selected sediment-retention ponds in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, near Delta, Colorado. This dataset includes pond location, pond characteristics, soil-moisture data, soil-chemistry data, and geophysical data. Pond locations were surveyed using real-time kinematic Global Navigation Satellite Systems (RTK-GNSS) methods and incorporated as a single shapefile in Ponds.zip. Pond characteristics were assessed, and observations were made for assigned surficial-geologic unit, vegetation, check-dam condition, check-dam height, water holding capacity, and stream condition entering and exiting the pond. Pond-characteristic data are incorporated as a single comma-separated values (.csv) file (PondInventory.csv). Soil moisture and chemistry data characterize soil moisture, specific conductance, pH, total dissolved solids, and chloride at selected depths in the soil profile. Soil moisture and chemistry data are presented in a .csv file (SoilData.csv). Geophysical surveys were conducted using a Geophex GEM-2, a hand-held multi-frequency electromagnetic induction sensor. The geophysical surveys were conducted to evaluate soil conductivity differences in and around pond locations and are presented as the unprocessed data from the instrument as a .csv file in GEM-2 data.zip.