June’s weather primarily has been hot and dry until the end
of the month when Mother Nature provided some well needed rain in our area. As
of June 28th, the AG Met sensor located in Penrose recorded almost 1
inch of precipitation received and the National Weather Service has rain
chances throughout the balance of the month into July. We are hopeful that the
weather patterns stay on target to deliver.
Normally, the Blog Spot is not as lengthy as this one, but
we feel it is necessary to reiterate to the established shareholders and
enlighten the newer shareholders with the following information.
It has been brought to our attention that some shareholders
are unhappy with the slower delivery of irrigations. As a reminder to all Shareholders;
we receive our water from the South side of Pikes Peak in the form of snow
melt and rain. The water that comes
to us we share water rights with Colorado Springs and the State of Colorado
(Colorado Parks and Wildlife). This entitles them to receive water also. Our
water is delivered down Beaver Creek from Skaguay Reservoir that is managed by
the State of Colorado. Skaguay is entitled to keep water in their reservoir at
a designated level. Water above that level is released down Beaver Creek to
final destination of Beaver Park Water, Inc.’s system. However, between Skaguay
and our system the State operates fields that they have water rights on Beaver
Creek and are entitled to irrigate. The State has designated a Water
Commissioner that keeps track of all the water usage from Skaguay to Penrose.
Beaver Park Water, Inc. being the end user on Beaver Creek
must work with the water received at our diversion and released into our 42-
inch line and presents it self in our upper ditch North of Penrose. The water
flows easternly towards Brush Hollow Reservoir. Prior to reaching Brush Hollow
Penrose Water District keeps their ponds filled for domestic water processing.
Beaver Park Water and Penrose Water District have continued to maintain a
contract agreement that supplies all of Penrose with domestic water. Water that
is not used at the plant continues on to Brush Hollow Reservoir.
At the beginning of 2021 irrigation season Brush Hollow only
measured 72ft due to the severe drought of 2019 and 2020 we experienced with
very little water coming into our system. A full Reservoir measures at 93 ft.
Based upon Penrose Water District’s purchase of 500 AF of storage that was
approved by the shareholders a few years back and the requirement to maintain
250 AF for Fish pool as required by CPW and contract obligations to supply
Penrose Water District; we only had 2 ft of the Reservoir we were able to use
for irrigation use for the lower ditch shareholders.
With that being said it was determined by the Board of
Directors to begin irrigations with those shareholders that had been without
water the longest. Meaning using the records from 2020 and scheduling
irrigations to those who received water back in April of 2020 as many due to
the drought only received one irrigation last year. Irrigations started the
week of April 12th. The reservoir was only opened on the lower ditch
to supply 5-6 CFS rather than fully opening the gate in efforts to make the water
last as long as possible. At the beginning we only had each ditch rider (3)
scheduling 2 shareholders each based upon the amount of water we were receiving
into our system. Yes, this was a very slow method but we did begin irrigations.
Penrose was very blessed to receive significant rain in May that totaled 3.5
inches that helped provide moisture to our parched land. The creek level
however did not increase until early June. When the levels went up, more
shareholders were scheduled for water. Unfortunately, due to the inconsistent
gate changes at Skaguay scheduling shareholders for deliveries has been a
challenge. One day the creek is up and the very next a gate change lowers the
creek significantly. Much like riding on a roller coaster. Our Superintendent
has been working with the Manager of operations at Skaguay and the Water
Commissioner in effort to understand why this has been occurring and sharing
her frustration in trying to manage the water in more consistent manner.
Regardless of the yo-yo effect water delivery down the creek
our Superintendent was successful in salvaging some of the water when it was at
a higher level and Beaver Park Water was in priority to store in Brush Hollow
Reservoir. Current measurement at Brush Hollow is at 74 ft. that will permit
more irrigations on the lower ditch to continue for a longer period of time
than expected.
Typical irrigations are structured regardless of the water
status is starting April 1-June 15th designated dates for 1st
irrigations. Irrigations did not begin until April 8th on the Upper
canal; one head each and on 4/20 opened the gate at the Reservoir, allowing
more irrigations to start. In the beginning each ditch rider and the
Superintendent had enough to run 2 heads of water each. As the creek increased
so did the deliveries. If you look at the time lines in your documents provided
in your annual packets you can see that 1st irrigations (that are near
completion) are not that far off. This leads to a question that has been asked
multiple times, have we started 2nd irrigations yet and the answer
is NO not yet. Those shareholders whose accounts are not in good standing and
those with no method to contact them will not receive water until their
accounts have been cleared. This will not impact the majority of the
shareholders as we will move on with 2nds when 1st’s have been
completed.
As a reminder the Superintendent and the ditch riders are
working their very best to provide the shareholders with irrigations and must
work with the water available. If there is low water, irrigations are either
suspended or reduced. Mother Nature is the only one who has control of the
weather. Not only are the ditch riders working with what water is available,
they must work schedules around shareholders who are not ready to receive the
water or are on vacation or contact numbers have not been updated or
shareholders can only receive water on certain days and times. Constantly
changing schedules to accommodate the needs of the shareholders can be a burden
on deliveries. However, the ditch riders are making every effort to make it
work for everyone. Mistakes are exactly what they are; mistakes. We are human
and when discovered, every attempt is made to correct the issue as quickly as
possible. Please know we are doing our best to provide all the shareholders
with irrigations, this is our #1 goal. Be patient and kind because it is the
right thing to do. We all play for the same team.
Hopefully this narrative will provide more insight into the
actual workings of the system. Should you ever have any questions or concerns
regarding this or anything else as it relates to Beaver Park Water, Inc. you
are encouraged to attend a monthly Board of Directors meeting held every second
Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm located in the office at 209 Broadway. Or if
you have a question concerning irrigation processes, please contact Connie
Johnson at 719-371-4312.
Another issue that has been a concern is: Reasons for Water deliveries fluctuating; the
answer can be many, some are: excessive pumpers at one time, screens plugged
with weeds, grass clippings, trash and sadly sometimes animals that have fallen
into the ditch, plugs in lines or alpha valves, too many gates wide open at the
same time, adjustments in lines not made properly with valves not closed or
opened when necessary, changes made by another ditch rider and communications
were not clear, delivery box gates opened or closed by unauthorized persons,
are just to name a few. It does take a ditch rider time to assess and check all
of the above to discover what may have happened prior to adjusting more water
into a line. Shareholders can assist with some of the issues by not allowing
anyone but the Beaver Park Water staff to make any adjustments, do not place
any items in the open canals such as grass clippings, tree trimmings, horse
manure or trash in the system. Do not let anyone play in the open canals. As a
shareholder you have the right to speak up to those you see doing any of the
above-mentioned violations. If you do not feel comfortable in doing so, please
notify the office and let us take care of it.
And the most common item that seems to be mis-understood by
many is irrigation water and assessments. As a shareholder you are one of five
hundred and thirty shareholders with a total of 3,534 shares belonging to a
mutual non-profit irrigation company. Your assessments you pay annually are for
the operational costs of keeping the system repaired and running and paying the
employees who do the work. The Board of Directors are an elected Board by the
Shareholders and are volunteering their time to oversee and advise the
operations and management of the assets and finances. Assessments are
calculated at $65/share+$13/share (Capital Improvement Acct) = $78/Share.
Assessment costs have remained the same for over 20 years with no increase.
Shareholders DO NOT pay for irrigation water. Beaver Park Water is NOT a
Utility Company. When irrigation water
is available, it is distributed. This is each shareholders dividend as a
shareholder. When water is plentiful and you receive 3 or more irrigations it
does not cost you more for the year. If you actually paid for water; it
would cost each time you received irrigation and this is not the case. Please
share this information with your neighbors who have been misinformed. If you
have any questions, please contact the office at 719-372-3664.
Thank you
As Always Pray for Rain!
