2015 End of Year Re-Cap

January Brush Hollow Reservoir had 72.60 ft. January’s snowfall was slight at that time and it was not easy to determine what our irrigation season may bring us.

 

February was a welcomed snowy month and the annual shareholders meeting was a great success with 66% of the shares represented either in person or through proxy.

March’s weather was like a roller coaster, it was either cold and snowy or very warm for winter. The upper ditch was full and we were unable to capture all of it. Rather than lose the water, irrigations began to those closest to the upper ditch and ready to receive water.

April continued to provide us precipitation and we began delivering irrigation water April 7^th as our first irrigations for the season. Rain provided Penrose with over 2.5 inches of precipitation and many farmers were delayed in plowing and planting their fields. As irrigations began, we discovered many damaged lines that needed immediate repairs. Repairs were completed as quickly as possible in efforts to continue irrigations.

 May continued to provide us with more rain and Penrose received over 5 inches of precipitation for the month. Some fields were ready to cut however the rain had them so saturated that it was impossible to do so. Other fields were not plowed and planted due to the excess moisture. The total opposite of what we had a couple of years back when we were suffering through the drought. Beaver Creek was running beyond our capabilities to capture all the water so we had water spilling over at the diversion.

June continued to be a challenge with an unbelievable amount of water coming down the creek. It was exciting to receive it, but when we are unable to capture and use it, it spilled down the diversion and made its way to the Arkansas River. June did give some relief and many fields were cut and baled. The ditch riders were able to complete first irrigations and began seconds throughout the system.

 July provided us with more rain. A total of 1.5 inches of precipitation was received. Second irrigations were completed and the ditch riders started on the deliveries of thirds towards the end of the month.

August continued to provide us rain and we received a total of 2 inches of precipitation. The middle of the month a significant rain storm came through our area and Bear Creek over flowed it’s holding ponds causing our lower ditch to overflow and cause flooding in Penrose. The lower ditch was shut off until the flooding subsided. As Penrose does not have a drainage system any flooding water goes into our ditches and follows through our system until the water level goes down.

September proved to be a dry month with no recorded precipitation. Brush Hollow’s level was at 84.8 ft. and Beaver Creek finally is running at a level that we can capture without spilling over. The ditch riders finished up third irrigations and started delivery of fourths.

October was an uneventful month. Fourth irrigations were being completed.

November ended irrigations for the 2015 season. On November 16^th the upper canal was shut off to enable work to be done on pipe replacement for the Bear Creek Crossing and KP Creek Crossings. After the crossings are completed, work will begin on the upper ditch lining repair and replacement. The most critical areas will be completed this year with continued repairs to be done each year.

 December - Beaver Park Water, Inc. Board of Directors and Staff wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.