January
provided several snow storms with each providing accumulations of 1-3 inches in
the Penrose area. Notifications were sent out for the Annual shareholders
meeting to be held via zoom due to the Covid-19 restrictions imposed on group
gatherings. Beaver Park Water was operating with only one ditch rider and the
Superintendent for the month as our other ditch rider was granted non-paid time
off for the month. Drought conditions persisted with 27.5% of the State showing
exceptional drought conditions.
February 2021
Annual shareholders meeting was held February 27th via zoom. This
was not a typical meeting however we were very fortunate that 70% of the shares
were represented providing a quorum to move forward with a meeting. The meeting
moved quickly and Connie Johnson our Superintendent provided a power point
presentation with photos and commentary to show improvements made. Two Board
positions were open and candidates had the opportunity to speak. Results would
not be released until the March Board of Directors meeting. Additionally; there
were 4 delinquent shares open for bid. Bid process was sealed and submitted to
Beaver Park Water Office and results were to be announced at the March Board
meeting also. The Penrose area did not
receive any significant moisture however the temperatures were extremely cold.
March Penrose
was pleasantly the recipient of several snow storms at the beginning of the
month. Creek levels managed to level out and provide water to supply Penrose
Water District with required water needs. Brush Hollow remains 20 feet below
the full level of 93 ft. Results from the elections for the open Board of
Director positions were; Jack Tyler re-elected and Charlie Newlon was elected
to the Board. The sealed bid envelopes for the delinquent shares were opened.
The highest bidder was notified and arrangements for payment were made.
April Penrose
received moisture either in the form of rain or snow. Due to the on-going
drought conditions, Beaver Park Water was out of priority to store water
therefore we had to use any water coming into our system as irrigation water. Unfortunately,
the low water volume made it difficult to distribute and we had to scale down
the process opening a few lines at a time. Due to the low water volume, it was
decided not to re-hire a new ditch rider until the volume picks up. Drought
conditions continue and the water levels in the creek remain low.
May Penrose
finally received some well-deserved moisture, a total of 3 ½ inches of
precipitation for the month. The creek level came up, we came back into
priority to store water and more irrigations were started. Unfortunately, just
as we settled into our great rewards of water, everything changed. The creek
level dropped down and the lines we had started we were shutting them down. And
with that the creek level increased again and we re-started those lines that we
had just shut down. Much like a yo-yo effect. The rain did give us the
advantage of continuing to use Brush Hollow as water was able to make it into
the reservoir from the increase in the creek and the rain.
June
Due to the erratic water availability during the month May, many shareholders
could not understand the methodology of irrigation distributions. We took the
opportunity to help educate the shareholders by publishing in the Blogspot in
June an in-depth explanation of how the system works and why changes occur in
distribution of irrigation. All shareholders
are encouraged to tour the system in effort to have a better understanding of
how the system works.
July Temperatures
were hot with almost 2 inches of precipitation for the month. The creek ran 30
c.f.s. the first couple of weeks that was instrumental in finalizing first
irrigations and we moved smoothly into second irrigations. Brush Hollow was at
78 ft. providing more water to those shareholders on the lower ditch. We did go
out of priority to store water, increasing irrigations.
August Penrose
was hot and dry. We benefited from the rains up north near Skaguay Reservoir
and the creek ran at 80 c.f.s. for several days. We were only able to capture
50 c.f.s. in our upper canal. This was great news as we were completing second
irrigations and starting into third irrigations as we were still out of
priority to store water. At the end of August; the creek reduced down to 16
c.f.s. This reduced the amount of distribution of irrigations to shareholders
but we continued on. We actively sought a new ditch rider to replace the West
Side ditch rider that resigned in 2020. However, our East side ditch rider
requested to deliver water on the West Side beginning irrigation season 2022.
The newly hired ditch rider will deliver water to the East Side beginning 2022
irrigation season.
September
Much like the previous month, we experienced hot and dry weather all
month. Third irrigations are continuing throughout the system with some lines completed.
Brush Hollow is slowing approaching the level that we will no longer to use its
water to irrigate the lower ditch shareholders. In order to finalize third
irrigations, water will be transferred down from the upper ditch to complete
distribution. David Leeson was chosen to complete our staff as a ditch rider.
He will be training with Andy on the East Side deliveries as this will be his
area of distribution next year. Connie will be training Andy on the West Side
deliveries.
October Unfortunately,
the weather continued to be hot and dry. Third irrigations are nearly
completed. The gate at Brush Hollow was shut on October the 4th. Water
for irrigations was transferred down from the upper ditch in efforts to
finalize third irrigations.
November Temperatures
remained warm with no precipitation. Third irrigations were completed and
irrigation season officially ended 11/15/21. Notification letters were sent out
to those shareholders who are two years behind in paying their assessments and
are at risk of having their shares auctioned at the annual shareholders meeting
in February 2022 if accounts are not paid in full.
December
– The staff has not
had the opportunity to work on mowing with the newly modified mower deck on the
skid steer as the wind and dry weather has presented us with an unusual amount
of red flag days this month. Precipitation recorded before Christmas was
only .02 at the AG Met sensor in Penrose. December 15th was a
notable day due to the extreme wind that blew through our area and caused tree
damage, fences to be knocked down, metal roofing and siding to be ripped off
and thrown about. Recorded wind speeds were at 89 mph. Not something we have
experienced in quite some time. Our area did not have any reported power
outages much like our neighboring towns, so we should consider ourselves
fortunate. Due to the several previous months of dry weather, we are anxious
for the winter snow to provide us much needed moisture. The last week of
December weather remains dry and windy. Colder temperatures have set in and the
weather reports are indicating we may have actual snow for the 1st day
of 2022. With 2021 coming to an end; we have hopes of 2022 bringing peace prosperity,
a finalization of restrictions and illnesses that COVID has created, and a good
supply of irrigation water. Pray for Snow!
