We started cleaning out the Settling Pond three days before the storm hit.

Day one and day two were beautiful!  Warm, sunshining, no wind.

(From my archive-

The third day, the wind picked up, and it turned so cold it felt like our part of the world was shrinking to protect itself.

The last two loads were in sheets of snow and wind

But we got it done.  One winter maintenance job finished for the year!

A settling pond is used to improve the quality of water going onto the farm: the dirt settles to the bottom, filling up the pond and not clogging the siphon tubes.

We always try to get this done before the first irrigation of the year.  (Which can be March if the Onion farmers call for it, then)

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda