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News & Initiatives

Irrigation Season Opening Status Update

We know everyone is anxious to get the spring and summer season going, grass greening, and plants growing. So are we.


Here’s the latest update.


  • Operations Manager Kenny Slaughter began the preseason-opening sequence in late April, the earliest safe date to begin charging the system. Any earlier opening of the system creates a risk in case of a hard freeze, which could wreck homeowners’ systems.


  • During this sequence, it became obvious that an over-winter leak had developed at the main pipeline valves near Buckhorn Valley Blvd.  The leak has to be fixed before the system can be fully charged and operational.


  • This repair has been held up by the lack of parts including connections, adapters, compression mechanical joints, and other materials. Kenny has searched for and driven to get parts from other western counties. He has engaged contract irrigation mechanics and excavation contractors. No effort has been spared.


  • Despite this all-out effort, the lack of parts has slowed the work, which is now, barring the unforeseen, being completed.


  • As of this writing, Kenny hopes to resume charging the system early next week, or about May 15. The charging sequence normally takes about 10 days to complete.


  • Barring any more unforeseen circumstances, everyone should have water by the end of May, which is historically the District’s target date for the complete opening of the system.


The District will post additional advisories if there are further developments.


Please be supportive of Kenny, he has no permanent assistants and is working his hardest to get you green

12/21/2020: Update on use of open space behind Buckhorn Valley

The land owner of the nearby open areas adjacent to Buckhorn Valley, BV Firewheel, is restricting use to those who have signed a release and waiver to safely use their private land and trails. 
Activities that are allowed include hiking, mountain biking and horse riding (with signed waiver/release).
Activities that are not allowed include hunting, shooting, motorized vehicles and motorized bicycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorized bicycles, and dirt bikes.
Private areas are marked in red on the map linked below.

Abrams Creek Project

BV_abrams_creek.png

In the spring of 2019, the District completed a very exciting and environmentally conscious project to improve the raw water infrastructure diverting water from Abrams Creek. The project consisted of the installation of approximately four miles of pipeline and a very innovative screening system system at the head gate designed to keep fish in the creek without harm including a rare aboriginal species of Cutthroat Trout native to Colorado. To learn more about the importance of native trout, please see this article from Trout Magazine. The improvements were designed to:


1. Reduce water loss, and improve efficiency

2. Provide cleaner more reliable irrigation

3. Protect the environment / improve sustainability of habitat for local wildlife

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The improved pipeline reduced the disruption to the creek thereby contributing to a sustainable habitat for local wildlife. We invite you to view the video prepared by Trout Unlimited showcasing this project from the link at the bottom of this article. This project was also featured in articles from Vail Daily newspaper.

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The project was conceived approximately ten years ago when the District began the

coordination of a joint project to improve its water sources and protect local wildlife. In 2019, the $1,200,000 Abrams Creek Project was completed almost entirely through grant funding from local agencies and special interest groups including:


The Town of Gypsum

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Trout Unlimited


For more information, we invite you to watch the following short videos showcasing this project:

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Abrams Creek, Rare and Vital Resource

https://www.tu.org/blog/protecting-a-unique-native-in-colorado/?fbclid=IwAR0tagUNjBrSmIkinKJleF7FZSnz7DjvKhTTOHqda39A4H84MC_-Y6uRUSk

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Abrams Creek Project

https://vimeo.com/301357386

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