Dear Snowmass-Capitol Creek Residents,


Thank you for supporting our Caucus. We are so fortunate to have such magical unspoiled valleys, and we appreciate our neighbors who continue to be good caretakers of the land. Our Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus continues to preserve and protect the rural character and scenic beauty of both valleys by reviewing land use applications, and making recommendations to the County.

Water is wealth, especially in Western Colorado. The stream flow of Snowmass Creek has been threatened for years by water usage of Snowmass Water and Sanitation District for Snowmass Village. A drop in stream flow levels can cause loss of fish life as well as the ultimate death of the Creek. Lack of water means trees and other vegetation become weakened, creating favorable conditions for infestations like the pine beetle, cottonwood beetle, and dry- land noxious weeds. Our beautiful irrigated ranch land could lose the ability to spread water, as ditches go dry by mid summer. This scenario is a reality now in other parts of the Roaring Fork Valley and could happen to us in the future.

With the expansion of Snowmass Village, including Base Village, the rodeo grounds with a Recreation Center & swimming pool, and redevelopment of the Snowmass Center and the Mall, we must be diligent to protect our precious water.

Please support our local Valley by giving a generous donation to the Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus to preserve and protect our water and our pristine rural way of life. If requested, your donation will be used exclusively for expenses directly related to the Creek.

 

FACTS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Ziegler Reservoir is a positive step in the District's development of the water infrastructure needed to provide for the growing Snowmass Village community. But the reservoir does not solve the problem.

Snowmass Creek valley is the water source for Snowmass Village, and East Snowmass Creek is dry for the winter months. Snowmass Village uses essentially NO Brush Creek water.

The District's uses for the reservoir are:
1. Emergency use - in order for approvals for all of the new development in the Village more stored water was required (this reservoir facilitates all of the development)
2. To buffer low flows of Snowmass Creek, at the District's discretion.

The District tells us that this reservoir will not provide enough water to allow them to maintain a minimum stream flow for Snowmass Creek.

In March of '08, which was a very good water year, the District pumped water from Snowmass Creek 24 times when the stream was at or below the minimum. Base Village alone will require a 20% increase in water use, and that does not include what will be needed for the Snowmass Center, the Rodeo area development, and any updates for the mall.

The ecology of the Snowmass-Capitol Creek Valley is still threatened by Snowmass Village's increasing demand for Snowmass Creek water. We need to continue monitoring the health of the Creek.

There is enough water to provide all that Snowmass Village needs and also protect the ecology of the Snowmass Creek Valley. We are at the headwaters. However, until there is an adequate water system to provide for the growing needs of the Village, we need to stay vigilant.

 

Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus 2008 Milestones

    * Advocated improved road maintenance, including safety improvements on Watson Divide
    * Reviewed and commented on dozens of land use applications to ensure rural character is    preserved, as required by our Master Plan
    * Worked tirelessly to ensure conditions of approval of Ziegler Reservoir that should help protect     Snowmass Creek from water diversions to Snowmass Village
    * Sponsored neighborhood events where old and new residents gathered, including the annual potluck at Holly McLain's Moon Run Ranch and the fall party at Patti and Tom Wheeler's Watson Divide home
    * Expanded the Board to seventeen members with better representation of the many neighborhoods in our valleys
    * Initiated an outreach program to promote better communication and participation in Caucus matters, including development of an evolving website
    * Organized Spring road cleanup day


Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus 2009 Goals

    * Continued careful monitoring of Snowmass Creek to protect vital stream flows
    * Expand and improve outreach program to encourage participation by all residents
    * Continued interface with Pitkin County on land use, wildfire, and similar issues
    * Initiate program to provide useful information to residents new to Western rural conditions, e.g., wildlife, wildfire hazards, water etiquette, noxious weeds


 

Thank You for Your Support!

 

Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus