Experts calm water fears

rights and how the county’s decision to adopt what’s known as the 300-year rule will help ensure an adequate water supply, even as the area sees increasing development and demand on aquifers.

BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY DGRIGSBY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Elbert County residents recently packed the Elizabeth Town Hall to learn about water, water law, water

Elizabeth Town Administrator Patrick Davidson said the idea of the “Water 101” class is not a new one. In fact, he says it’s been on the town’s radar for quite some time.

“Members of the Planning Commission were interested in how water is presented under Colorado law and how the process worked,” Davidson said. “Due to this interest, and the interest of the Board of Trustees on the same topic, it evolved into having a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the Board of Trustees. Because many of the people moving into the area have either lived where water is plentiful, or have misconceptions about water

SEE WATER, P4

Gardner said the food drive is the rst act of service by the nonpro t volunteer women’s service organization in the community. It will bene t the Help and Hope Center, a Castle Rock-based pantry that helps people in Elbert and Douglas counties who are in crisis, including at risk of becoming homeless.

School Board Resignations

See page 10 for a story about the planned resignations of three Elizabeth School Board members, based on information available at press time.

e drive is also part of a wider celebration of the creation of the DAR chapter. Joe Martell, president of the Elbert County Historical Society & Museum, is expected to talk at the March 25 event about preservation issues, and chapter o cers and new members will be inducted, Gardner said.

Running Creek would become Colorado’s 48th DAR chapter. Most chapters in the state are concentrated in cities and along the Front Range. e Running Creek Chapter is expected to have 19 initial members, some of them transfers from metro-area chapters they had to travel to in order to participate in DAR events.

“Since we’re starting so small, we’re going to have to get together after we’re organized and do some chapter planning,” Gardner said.

Possible plans for the chapter include working with Wreaths Across America, an organization that has a mission to “Remember, Honor and Teach” about veterans. Every December, the organization coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and veterans’ cemeteries around the country.

“Elizabeth has a veterans’ cemetery,” Gardner said. “So, maybe we can bring that program into Elbert County. Remembering our veterans is important.”

Another likely focus of the organization is historic preservation.

“I feel like Elbert County is a little bit of an untapped area with that,” Gardner said. e group is open to women with a variety of interests from diverse backgrounds, regardless of race, religion and other factors, she added. e only caveat is that each member be able to trace their lineal descent to patriots of the American Revolution.

Historic preservation is one of three priorities of DAR since its founding in 1890. DAR’s other priorities are education and patriotism.

“I know people tend to think of us as more conservative, but we’re nonpolitical,” Gardner said.

Some women might be surprised to nd they have a connection,

Gardner said.

“One of the more interesting parts is researching history and genealogy,” she added.

Some women have found unexpected connections to the Ameri- can Revolution. For instance, she recalled women who had connections to shopkeepers that helped the Continental Army and workers who helped build the roads the army relied on.