UPDATE:

The Arkansas Valley Water Collaborative plans to clean up the remaining piles on Wednesday, August 19th.

The Collaborative has indicated that there has been a tremendous amount of slash this summer, and they have struggled with getting enough personnel to process it. They are working as fast as they can and appreciate everyone's patience and support.

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The Arkansas Valley Water Collaborative's chipping crews were at Beaver Lakes Estates on July 23rd, but were unable to pick up all the piles. They're returning to our neighborhood this week on Thursday, August 13th. They are accepting new applications for the BLE area and aim to complete all pickups by the end of September.

• You must sign up at https://forms.gle/oY2r5ByCRvZa7eMx8 to get on the chipping list. Be sure to select the Beaver Lakes: August 13th chipping day
• There is no charge, but a donation is appreciated: https://arkcollaborative.org/donate/
• 6” max diameter: small trees can be left whole.
• All the cut ends should face the road.
• Piles should be within 5 feet of the road or driveway - not in ditches or under trees.
• No sage brush, ground juniper, roots, root wads, weeds, lumber, or any wood with nails (dirt, rocks, and metal will break the machines).
• Making the PERFECT pile: no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7 feet long.
• Homeowners do not need to be home to participate. The crew appreciates any help you can provide.

To better serve our members and guests, Beaver Lakes Estates has a new phone number: (719) 257-3182

We've replaced our previous landline with a new phone system that offers several improvements. Calls and voicemail are now routed directly to our caretaker's phone and email, allowing for quicker responses and easier coordination.

With our new number, you can also send and receive text messages, making it even easier to communicate quick questions or requests.

In addition to improving communication, this change will save Beaver Lakes Estates hundreds of dollars each year, helping us reduce operating costs while providing better service.

Please update your records and use (719) 257-3182 for all future calls and messages to Beaver Lakes Estates.

Weather permitting, Beaver Lakes Estates will be applying magnesium chloride to Empire Valley Drive on Tuesday, July 14th. The treatment area will extend from the cattle guard at the entrance to Beaver Lakes Estates to Rainbow Road.

Magnesium chloride is a safe, commonly used dust suppressant throughout Colorado. It works by attracting and retaining moisture in the road surface, which helps reduce dust, minimize washboarding, stabilize the road base, and extend the life of our gravel roads.

For the best results, please drive slowly through the treated area during and for the first day after application. Slower speeds help the product bond with the road surface and reduce the amount that may be tracked onto vehicles.

If magnesium chloride gets on your vehicle, there is no cause for concern. Simply rinse your vehicle with fresh water when convenient, paying particular attention to the undercarriage and wheel wells. A normal car wash within the next few days is all that is needed to remove any residue.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to improve and preserve our community roads.

The Arkansas Valley Water Collaborative chipping crews will be in Beaver Lakes on July 23, 2026. This is a great opportunity to do fire mitigation on your lot and protect your buildings and the forest.

Please take the time to read this linked document on fire mitigation: Protecting Your Home from Wildfire.

• You must sign up at https://forms.gle/oY2r5ByCRvZa7eMx8 to get on the chipping list. Be sure to select the Beaver Lakes: July 23rd chipping day
• There is no charge, but a donation is appreciated: https://arkcollaborative.org/donate/
• 6” max diameter: small trees can be left whole.
• All the cut ends should face the road.
• Piles should be within 5 feet of the road or driveway - not in ditches or under trees.
• No sage brush, ground juniper, roots, root wads, weeds, lumber, or any wood with nails (dirt, rocks, and metal will break the machines).
• Making the PERFECT pile: no bigger than 5 feet high x 10 feet deep x 7 feet long.
• Homeowners do not need to be home to participate. The crew appreciates any help you can provide.

BLE follows the U.S. Forest Service for fire restrictions and bans to protect our neighborhood. Stage 2 fire restrictions are in place for the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. The Lake County Sheriff has also implemented similar restrictions. Details on the restrictions related to outdoor fires, smoking, welding, using explosives, and using a motor vehicle off national forest roads can be found in the links below:

U.S. Forest Service PSICC Stage 2 Fire Restrictions

Lake County Sheriff Fire Restriction

The U.S. Forest Service restrictions are in place until August 1, 2026, unless rescinded.

A link to the current fire restriction links has been added to the right side of the homepage. The U.S. Forest Service website should be used to determine what restrictions are in place, as the BLE website may not be immediately updated.

There are three Board members whose terms expire in July 2026: Tim Ratterman, Aagje Barber, and Kim Pierron.

We are seeking community members who are interested in serving on the BLE Board. Serving on the Board is a meaningful way to help shape decisions that affect our neighborhood, including operations, member dues, and the use of community assets. We aim to maintain a full Board of seven members, and new perspectives are always valuable.

Board service is a three-year commitment. The Board meets on the third Thursday evening of each month, except in July, when our annual member meeting is held on the third Saturday. All meetings except the July annual meeting are held online, allowing members to participate from anywhere.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact any current Board member: https://beaverlakes.org/documents/

If you would like to nominate yourself, please submit a short biography to board@beaverlakes.org by June 5, 2026.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our community.