gametrailassn.org

Game Trail
TAILS
The Game Trail Vision: To preserve this extraordinary, private environment of nature for all the years to come.
Volume XVII - No.1
Board of Directors
2010-2011
Phil Strongin
President
John Hvizdos
Vice President
Val Philpot
Secretary
Jeff DeChristopher
Treasurer
Dean Harper
Assistant Treasurer
Chris Krocesky
GTA Administrator
719-395-4713
In This Issue

Outside Watering

President’s Corner

Forestry—Bugs and Fire

Water Augmentation
Update

GT Homes Severely
Damaged

Rule and Regulation
NO. 10-01

Search & Rescue

Elk Buglings
Website: www.gametrailassn.org
FEBRUARY, 2011
OUTSIDE WATERING - APPROVED!
By Ken Siefken, Former Board Member
Great News. Outside watering for Game Trail has been approved by the Colorado
Division of Water Resources effective April 1, 2011. Our permits allow for up to 2,939
gallons of water per lot annually, for limited outside water needs. However, with this
approval there are certain conditions to which we must adhere to maintain this privilege.
Last year, in anticipation of the State’s approval, the
Board adopted Rule & Regulation NO. 10-01, Allowable Use
of Outside Water. This document, which has been incorporated into our permits, establishes the allowable uses of outside water for Game Trail lot owners, as well as the responsibility of the Board for enforcement. Since we are not required to meter outside usage at each house, it is important
we adhere to these requirements.
Of particular importance, no lawn of any kind is allowed.
This requirement is in keeping with the Covenant to maintain
our subdivision in as nearly a natural state as possible consistent with residential use.
In addition, the planting of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers (drought tolerant) should be
native to the area to minimize water requirements, and not exceed 175 sq ft in the aggregate. With only 2,939 gallons of water available for use, only a limited amount of
vegetation can be supported. The State has only authorized the use of outside water during the months of April – October, since these are the typical irrigation months in Colorado.
The Association is required by the State to monitor the use of outside water and limit
it where it appears to be excessive. The applicable Rule & Regulation NO. 10-01
(Revised 02/09/2011) is reprinted later in this newsletter and can be found on the Game
Trail website at www.gametrailassn.org.
The use of outside water in Game Trail is an important milestone for our community. This step in securing a limited amount of water can enhance our quality of life, as
well as increase our property values.
Outside water usage is only authorized for the
months of April through October.
2011 usage begins April 1.
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 2
President’s Corner
By Phil Strongin
I've enjoyed the position of your Board President. I especially like input from the other Directors, who are very sharp. Each has a different skill set, background and type of experience. It's always interesting to talk with residents about their questions and comments and I enjoy this, too.
My major concerns, in this order, are fire mitigation, financial strength and stability, road maintenance and water availability for both inside and outside usage.
The very important issue of fire mitigation has been elevated by the major
fires on the Front Range in 2010. The Chaffee County Fire Department rates
Game Trail barely in the moderate risk category. A rating loss of only one
point in our upcoming audit would place us in a high risk category, which is a poor position to be in and could
cause our property insurance premiums to rise. Much of our major exposure comes from grass too close to
the house and sloping lots as fire tends to burn up hill. Our very active Forestry Committee, chaired by Judy
Wait, is charged with educating our residents regarding fire mitigation. The Committee is experimenting with
fire risk forms that residents could complete to aid them assessing their property. The Association will try to
sponsor several committee members to attend seminars to further their, and ultimately, our education. Our
intent is to assist our residents in diminishing their fire exposure.
It's imperative that our investments in Game Trail are sound. The Board spends a lot of effort managing
our finances to assure our security. Financial reports are presented to the Board each month and comparisons
are made to the budget and prior year's figures. Our Treasurer and Administrator are responsible for alerting
the Board to significant deviations from the budget. We have a strong Financial and Audit Committee to provide oversight and planning, as well as an excellent outside C.P.A. firm to perform an annual review of the
financial statements and internal controls. The budget is sent to each lot owner at the beginning of the calendar year and financial reports are sent prior to the annual meeting. It's vital that we continue to fund our reserves. We contributed $29,000 to the Reserves in 2010. Our Operating Reserve will be $55,000, which is the
targeted amount. The Capital, Repair and Replacement and Fire Protection Reserves all remain essentially unchanged allowing for
minimum shifting between the funds. We continue to be in a strong financial position barring any unforeseen, large expenditures.
Game Trail consists of almost 1,900 acres and contains 18 miles of roads. We have been, and
are currently, budgeting $40,000 a year for road maintenance plus
$25,000 annually for snow removal. These are major expenditures and
require constant monitoring. It is a waste of our money to try to eliminate the washboard ridges by simply scraping them off. Our soil has no
binder; therefore, we have to utilize something to help us compact the
soil into a surface that adheres. Years ago, the Association used Mag
Chloride, which is proven to be very toxic to vehicles and the environment. Therefore, we utilize moisture, preferably rain since it's free, to help create a surface that
will last. This means our residents may have to be patient at times while we wait for the correct conditions to grade the roads.
There are several causes that create ridges such as road configuration, which we will work on, lack of moisture and heavy or fast
traffic. The main cause of these corrugations is us; we drive too fast! When tires bounce on the surface, the ridges are created and
then they inevitably continue to grow. Please slow down especially on the corrugations, curves and where the roads have gradient.
I'm reluctant to place water issues on this list and I expect that this will be the last time I mention
them, at least in this context. The immediacies of these concerns are behind us thanks to Ken Siefken
and his excellent work. The Colorado Division of Water Resources has approved of our outside water
use application. Outside watering may begin in April per our agreement. Negotiations for augmentation
of inside water use are finalized. The Augmentation and Operating Agreement with the Kellys was
signed in early December and the Modified Decree has been approved by the Water Court. Game Trail
now has a secure and strong long-term agreement in place that will protect us for the foreseeable future.
Thank you, Ken. For details, please refer to Ken’s articles in this newsletter.
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 3
By Judy Wait & Dennis Billings, Forestry Committee
Game Trail
Committee Chairs
Since we currently either have a home in a forest or own land in a forest, bugs and fire are two
main concerns all GT land owners have in common. The GT Forestry Committee works to help all of
us understand the issues and mitigate the potential negatives.
Architectural Control
Committee
Dave Nelson
Education and understanding the risks are the first steps in protecting, as best as possible, all GT
land. We have updated the Forest Committee web page on the GTA website (www.gametrailassn.org)
and encourage all owners to review the new information posted. Over the next few months very important new information will be posted relative to the issues of fire in the forests and what GT owners
can do collectively to reduce the risks for all of us.
Commons
Committee
Wayne Eisenbrandt
Forestry - Bugs and Fire
Bugs: More specifically the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB), IPS, and,
in some cases, a Miner Beetle. The Forestry Committee members are
finished walking all the GT lots and checking for our unwanted guests.
This year we identified only one tree infested with MPB. This is the good
news! Good work lot owners! The bad news is MPB has been found less
than two miles from GT in the National Forest, well within range of flight
into GT. We all need to continue our efforts to maintain a healthy forest.
Fire: Fire is one word no one who owns land in or near a forested area wants
to hear. However, fires are a reality of life. The Boulder area fires (160 homes and
structures destroyed) this year and the Hayman fire a short time ago are reminders of
the risks we all face. Your Forestry Committee has brought in highly qualified
Chaffee County firefighters to update and educate the Committee members on the
fire risks in GT and surrounding areas, provide educational information for GT owners (a very important reason for you to check the GT Forestry Committee web page),
provide ideas, suggestions and options to help lessen the fire dangers within GT, and
initiate an awareness program for the committee and then all GT owners.
Why is this important to you?
#1 Risk and Insurance: Currently risk levels for insurance are rather broad-based. However, after the Boulder fires this year, some preliminary inquiries by insurance companies
have been made to review what the owner has done to reduce the risk of fire. All of us know
this might be the first step by the insurers to base rates, not only on the ―averages,‖ but possibly -- and we repeat this is preliminary -- place a rating on the individual land or home.
#2 Market Value of Your Home: Imagine what your lot might look
like and what its value might be if a fire swept through it or the surrounding area. Whether it is current GT owners or our heirs who eventually sell, we must do all we can to protect against the possibility of
fire in order to preserve our investments.
Communications
Committee
Bill Hicks
Block Captains
Brenda Hooper
&
Barb Peterson
Finance & Audit
Committee
Bill Waldorf
Forestry
Committee
Judy Wait
Nominating
Committee
Bob Martinez
Social
Committee
Judy Curran
Water
Committee
Walt Lafford
Game Trail Tails
Editor
Kathy Matre
Assistant Editor
Larry Gleeson
Mitigating the risks is a key issue in addressing the problem. How do we alleviate the issues both as individual owners and for
all of GT? Your Forestry Committee is working to provide education and develop options and alternatives for both residents and
absentee owners. Protecting the area we all value is important to all GT owners. The Forestry Committee is currently developing a
form for lot owners to use to evaluate their own risks. We hope to develop a volunteer program where interested lot owners who are
unable to address their fire concerns themselves, place their names in a lottery. If they are selected as the lottery winner, volunteers
from the Forestry Committee will help clean up the fire ladders and dead trees from their property. Please watch the Forestry Committee web page for future information on this form and details about the lottery. If you have questions or concerns please feel free
to contact any of the forestry volunteers listed below. We are all eager to help you become more informed. Judy or Chip Wait;
Jim Schomaker; Dennis Billings; Fred Balmos; Jack Peterson; Cindy Erickson; Rick Caissie; Joe Humpher; or John Hvizdos.
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 4
WATER AUGMENTATION UPDATE
By Ken Siefken, Former Board Member
On December 1, 2010, the
Board of Directors unanimously passed a Resolution to
approve an Augmentation and
Operating Agreement with
Kelly Ranch and to approve modifications to the Quail Ridge
Water Decree. This action by the Board is arguably one of the
most important in the history of the Game Trail Association.
Since the inception of our water augmentation plans, there
has not been a comprehensive agreement covering the obligations and responsibilities of Kelly Ranch to operate them for our
benefit. The Augmentation and Operating Agreement, which
covers both the Quail Ridge and Trailwood Decrees (together
covering the entire Game Trail development), defines these responsibilities and controls in the event of any inconsistencies
with prior agreements.
Of specific benefit to Game Trail, the Association has the
right of access and self-help to ensure compliance with both
decrees. In addition, Game Trail has the right to inspect all facilities, water usage, measuring devices, and accounting and
record keeping associated with the Augmentation Plans and Operating Agreement.
Kelly Ranch re-opened the Quail Ridge Decree in May,
2007, in order to reduce their augmentation requirement to satisfy Game Trail’s needs. By claiming that septic system return
flows to the aquifer were 90%, only 10% of our in-house use
would need to be augmented. This reduction in augmentation
requirements allowed for a significant return of water to the Kellys for re-irrigation of their lands.
With some minor changes to the modified Decree and in return for a comprehensive Augmentation and Operating Agreement, the Association agreed to the modified Decree. Game
Trail also received substantial benefits from these modifications.
Most importantly, the modified Decree provides for additional
safeguards to our water supply storage, especially during
drought years.
All objectors have ―stipulated out of‖ (approved) the water
court case, and a motion for entry of the modified Decree was
filed with the District Court, Water Division 2 for their review.
The water judge approved the Decree on January 19, 2011,
which has been filed with the Pueblo County District Court.
The modified Decree, as well as the Augmentation and Operating Agreement, is now effective.
3 Game Trail Homes Severely Damaged
By Walt Lafford, Water Committee Chair
I hope this notice gets your attention. This notice is specifically directed to GT home owners who are non-residents or residents who leave their home unoccupied for some extended period of time. Over the New Year’s weekend three GT homes experienced water pipe freezes resulting in extensive damage to all three homes. I wanted to bring this to your attention immediately, because this is a completely preventable disaster. Whenever you leave your home for any length of time longer than a day
or two, please turn off the water at the main valve where it enters your home. This should be as automatic as buckling up your
seat belt when you get in your car. Do not be the next victim of this disaster.
In two days we lost nearly 35,000 gallons of water from our system before your Water Committee could locate the offending homes. This required many hours of tramping through snow drifts by the Water Committee Members visiting almost every unoccupied home in GT looking for
signs of water damage before we could isolate the offending homes and turn off their water. Those homes are now a real mess and will require
tens of thousands of dollars to restore.
Even though the damage was bad, it could have been much worse, had your GT Board of Directors not had the foresight over the past several
years to fund the complete computerization and control of the water system. This, along with the dedication and expertise of your Water Committee, allowed us to recognize and isolate the problem relatively quickly. Without the constant monitoring of the water system our first indication
would have been the loss of water service to surrounding homes and, of course, far more water damage to the involved homes.
I hope sincerely that all residents read and heed this plea from your Water Committee. I hate to say this, but I for one am getting too old to
tramp around in the snow trying to figure out whether your home is being destroyed by water. We should all turn the water off, even in the summer,
because pipes break, washing machine hoses fail and toilets break.
In closing, I know we all forget things, so perhaps consider putting the following sign next to your garage door opener or car keys:
WATER OFF?
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 5
GAME TRAIL ASSOCIATION, INC.
RULE AND REGULATION NO. 10-01 (Revised 02/09/2011)
ALLOWABLE USE OF OUTSIDE WATER
Game Trail Association has purchased augmented water from the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District to allow Members to use up to 2,939 gallons of water per lot annually, for limited outside water needs.
Outside water usage is limited to the period April 1 – October 31 each year.
Recital C of the Master Declaration of Covenants says ―It is understood and declared to be a common purpose
of Game Trail and its residents that this territory is to be maintained in as nearly a natural state as possible
consistent with residential use.‖
Therefore, it is the purpose of this rule and regulation to establish allowable uses of outside water.
Approved uses include:











Bird Baths
Periodic washing of vehicles
Washing exterior of house and patio prior to maintenance activities such as painting or sealing
Washing exterior windows
Occasional cleaning of walks or patios
Establishing or maintaining a limited number of ornamental trees or shrubs provided they are consistent with the native vegetation
Maintaining a limited number of ornamental seasonal flowers or vegetable plants
Filling of hot tubs or buried cisterns provided the allowable limit of 2,939 gallons is not exceeded
in a calendar year
Spraying of a limited number of trees for the prevention of beetles or mistletoe
Watering-in of re-seeded disturbed areas after construction
Outside irrigation (up to 175 sq ft)
Non-approved uses include:


Lawns of any kind (e.g. Bluegrass)
Above ground cisterns
In the aggregate, the amount of outside water used by a lot owner cannot exceed the maximum allowable of
2,939 gallons, per our agreement with the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District.
The Association reserves the right to monitor the use of outside water, and to limit it where it appears to be
excessive.
Failure of Association Members to abide by any of these rules and regulations may result in the imposition of
fines or other remedies described in the Bylaws of Game Trail Association, Inc.
Originally approved 05/03/2010
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 6
By Brian Erickson, Game Trail Resident
During an average year in Chaffee County, over a quartermillion rafters, fishermen and kayakers visit our rivers, thousands of hikers and climbers traverse our wilderness areas and
summit our twelve 14,000’ peaks and numerous snowmobilers
and ATV (all-terrain vehicle) users explore the backcountry.
Throughout the year, the volunteers of the Chaffee County
Search and Rescue teams are on call and ready to assist if anyone gets into trouble in the backcountry, on the river, or on the
peaks.
Reporting to the Sheriff, the teams (one located in Salida and
the other in Buena Vista) are called to help when backcountry or
river users call 911 or the Sheriff’s office. Some team members
are experts in backcountry hiking and climbing, others in ATV
(all-terrain vehicles) and snowmobile operation and others in
river rescue. All are at least trained in Wilderness First Aid,
with many trained at the EMT and Wilderness First Responder
level, and all have passed background checks by local law enforcement.
If you see or are involved in a backcountry incident that may
require help from a Search and Rescue team, you are encouraged to call 911. The patient will not be billed for Search and
Rescue assistance unless specialized equipment such as a helicopter is needed. When a helicopter is called in for medical
reasons, the patient’s health insurance normally pays the cost.
The patient is only financially liable if a request for helicopter
evacuation is made for the patient’s own convenience.
Search and Rescue teams are funded by donations and reimbursements from the sale of COSAR (Colorado Outdoor Search
and Rescue) cards. Outdoor enthusiasts, both locals and visi-
tors, are encouraged to
purchase a COSAR card
from a participating outdoor store, including The
Trailhead in Buena Vista.
The cost is a nominal $12
for five years. All money
generated from COSAR
card sales goes to the
Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), which administers the funds. Backcountry users with a Colorado fishing or
hunting license, or a currently registered snowmobile, dirt bike
or ATV are already paying into the DOLA fund through their
registration fee and have the equivalent of a COSAR card.
If a person rescued by Search and Rescue is carrying a COSAR card or its equivalent, DOLA will immediately reimburse
the team for miles driven in personal 4X4s, as well as personal
snowmobile or ATV usage. Search and Rescue team members
agree to donate these DOLA reimbursements for use of their
personal equipment to their Search and Rescue team. A COSAR card is not a form of insurance and will not pay for a helicopter evacuation, but it does help the Search and Rescue teams
pay for medical supplies and keep equipment operational.
Two members of the Game Trail community are active
Search and Rescue members and any resident of Colorado interested in joining the team is welcome to visit one of our monthly
meetings and tell us why you’d like to be a member. In the next
Game Trail Tails, I’ll discuss basic backcountry safety and how
to communicate with the Sheriff’s office if you need Search and
Rescue assistance.
Electronic Publishing of Game Trail Tails
Electronic delivery of the Game Trail Newsletter has been quite successful. We continue to gather email addresses for electronic delivery. If you would like to sign up or if there have been any changes in your email address, please update your
owner information by sending an email to [email protected] with the following information:
Owner 1, Email address 1
Owner 2, Email address 2
Mailing address
Game Trail address, Filing, Lot number
Phone
In addition to receiving GT Tails electronically,
do you wish to be included in the GT directory? (Y/N)
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 7
ELK “BUGLINGS”
TRIKING
By Wally Pinell, Game Trail Resident
Ever discover something that’s good for you and so much fun that you want to share it? Well, last year, after being advised
by my back surgeon to consider riding a recumbent-style cycle for exercise, I went to a cycle shop in Colorado Springs to check out
this new (to me) type of machine. But I didn’t get just a recumbent, I got a TRIKE, a three-wheel recumbent, one for me and one
for my wife Loni. We were both hooked after our first, thrilling trike test ride.
It was amazing how much fun cycling could be again. Riding a trike brought back exciting memories of riding a go-cart when I
was a kid. It is easy to pedal, can climb the steepest hill with much less effort than an upright two wheeler, and the neatest thing is
you won’t tip over or fall when you slow down on a steep hill or stop for traffic; it goes plenty fast on the flats and you can go fast
enough downhill to get an adrenaline rush. For us, triking is so much fun that we often forget that we’re exercising, and when we
get home from our morning rides, we feel refreshed and ready to face the chores of the day. A few other good things about triking
are: you’re outside in the fresh air, you get tanned, especially your legs, you’ll get new quads and a new, tight butt! You can enjoy
breathing in all the fresh Colorado air and wake up happy from a more restful night’s sleep.
Trike riding avoids the aches and pains associated with two-wheel cycling. On a trike you don’t get saddle sores, back pain,
neck pain, shoulder pain or wrist pain. Since you are sitting up, on a comfortable seat, you can see where you are going and enjoy
the great scenery around you. Drivers give you wide berth on the road, probably because you look so unconventional.
What’s the downside: Walmart does not sell them; and because they are so well
engineered, they can cost more than an upright bike.
Kelvin Clark, the owner of ANGLETECH, the cycle store in Colorado Springs
where we purchased our trikes, will custom fit a trike for you.
Loni and I will be participating in two trike rallies this summer. Check out the photos from last year at this rally in Idaho: http://www.32go.us/tt10/pix/tt10pix2.htm
See you on the triking trails in the spring, whenever spring finally arrives.
Triking on Rodeo Road
SOCIAL COMMITTEE NOTE
Look for a Spring Social Event something in
April with date and location to be determined.
DOG RUN REMINDER
Rule and Regulation NO. 08-01 states: ―After
use of the corrals, all animal waste must be
immediately cleaned up by the animal owner
and disposed of properly.‖
Bobcat visiting the Curran/Gladden
Home on Eagles Ridge.
Photo by John Gladden
Please remember to take your own cleanup
bags since there may not be rolled-bags available at all times.
Game Trail Association
P.O. Box 4110
Buena Vista, CO 81211
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO 12
Buena Vista CO
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Game Trail Tails, February, 2011
Page 8
Here is a Game Trail tip. If you are expecting emergency equipment (ambulance,
fire) to arrive at your home, it is helpful to the responding agencies if you have a friend or
neighbor meet them at the mail center to guide them to your home. Emergency vehicles
have been observed looking at the Game Trail map trying to find a street location.
Thank you to
Bill & Maxine
Davis,
the Christmas Elves who have
decorated our Mail Center so
beautifully for the last few
years!
Game Trail Association Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:00 AM to Noon, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Additional times available by appointment. Call Chris Krocesky 395-4713.