When my brother and I grew up, our parents owned a couple of lakes on Grand Mesa. One was the reservoir attached to the orchard, upon which we lived. Another one was a small natural lake above the reservoir, where spring snow melt collected and then was allowed to feed into the reservoir. This one was privately owned by my Mom and Dad.
Over time, my parents moved from Cedaredge, Colorado to Craig, Colorado…the orchard and the attached reservoir went on to other owners, but the small natural lake stayed under my parents ownership.
Pages turn and then become chapters. The chapters open up new and interesting things and ideas and sometimes lead to scary situations. In 2010 a new chapter started for this little lake.
Soon the small beautiful little lake on Grand Mesa, Colorado had a huge enemy made up of men, who had formed a quasi-governmental group, which bought up water to rent to other people in need of shares of water. Because they had purchased so much water they then needed to have lakes in which to store the water.
Mom and Dad’s little lake fell into their greedy sight, which caused me many nights of lost sleep, my brother and I lots of dollars, to try and save the little lake for our prosperity forever.
It was a long slog and a HUGE up-hill battle. Finally the quasi-government of men threatened ’eminent domain’ to take the tiny little natural lake, full of native and (protected) yellow water lilies, surrounded by a gigantic meadow of (protected) peat.
(After cutting the dam and other damaging things— like removing the sign–they did leave the post.)
They had their lawyer call me and say the next step would be in court. I told them to talk to my lawyer not to me.
Serious this whole thing was.
My brother and I decided we could not fight financially (or in court) anymore. So we deeded the beautiful little natural lake to the Forest Service.
I know it’s gone forever from the family, but it’s safe.
No one can tear up the peat bog, or damage the meadow, or rip out the water lilies.
It’s still a lovely little place.
We go up often, taking the grandchildren so they can see and understand that this little lake is a special little lake.
I go, because I know we fought the good fight and it’s safe for ever more.
Your Friend,
Linda
Not being people who could turn down and invitation of such wonderful magnitude… we were off!
There (just above the wing tip), was Confluence Lake, in our small town of Delta, Colorado. You can also see the Gunnison River flowing toward Grand Junction, Colorado, and two large fields of sunflowers on the top of lower California Mesa.
We flew above the North Fork Delta County, and then he took us over Grand Mesa.
As time went on we traveled over the Book Cliffs (where wild horses roam) just above the city of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Then over the rugged and beautiful Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray, with the accent on the pah)
The smoke from all the fires made the air a little hazy, but suddenly we were flying over our farm.
What a joy! What an amazing adventure and a delightful gift!
Life on a Colorado Farm 