October updates

Apple Day in Penrose was a wonderful way to begin October, attendance was great, apples were plentiful and the streets were lined with various vendors. Of course the Penrose Elementary school floats were the highlight of the day. The kids and faculty look forward to this annual event.

October has been a busy month. The ditch riders completed thirds to all the shareholders in the system. We began fourth irrigations to some shareholders and will continue to irrigate as long as possible. We are watching the lake level very carefully as the staff gage is at 66.5. We will shut off the lower ditch when the staff gage at Brush Hollow reaches 65. Irrigation season ends November 15^th and we will no longer need to watch for storage priority. Up until then we will irrigate from the creek (upper ditch) if we are not in priority. This has been a very successful irrigation season; regardless of training two new ditch riders and changing of the Superintendent position while continuously running water was challenging at times, but the team pulled it together and made it happen.

October temperatures ranged from a high of 83 degrees to a low of 25 degrees. We were mostly dry, however in one 24 hour period Penrose received 1.16 inches of rain fell according to the Ag Met sensor. Overall we enjoy summer one day and fall the next. This is truly the season where you learn to layer. Coats are required in the morning with the heater running and short sleeves in the afternoon with the air conditioner. Welcome to Colorado.

Congratulations to Jeremy Ervin (ditch rider on the East side deliveries) on his newest title of “husband”. The bride and groom hosted a haunted Halloween wedding with all guests arriving in costume. Good Luck to Jeremy and Jennifer.