Red Feather Lakes

You have probably had a chance to read the Winter Edition of the POA Newsletter by now. We want to call your attention to an error in that publication. The letter said we need three (3) new board members beginning in July to serve three (3) year terms. Actually, we need FIVE (5) new members. This is because we only have seven members now and we should have nine. In this way we always have six experienced members. Please speak with a current or past board member to learn more about the duties and responsibilities. It is a working board, however the total number of hours required is not that large. It is a great way to meet more people and serve the community you so enjoy. Please give it serious consideration. Thanks!

The loss of two cabins in December, 2012 was due to the falling of a “beetle killed” tree onto power lines. We were EXTREMELY lucky to have avoided a horrible forest fire at that time.

It is critical that you remove any trees on your property that are dead and near enough to power lines to damage them when the fall. Pine trees do not have a tap root like most trees. They typically fall 3 to 5 years after they die, but in Red Feather, it can be much earlier due to the winds we often encounter. Please take action right away if this information pertains to you. You can call Poudre Valley REA and they will take the trees down for you, however you will need to remove the debris. Thank you

We have high hopes that the POA building will be fully repaired before our summer season gets underway. There have been a number of requests from those that would like to display their wares at that annual craft fair on the 4th. Here is a form you can download and complete. It contains all the details you will need: Craft Show Vendors Letter 2013

Dennis McMillan provided an update to what he believes happened during this serious event last December. First, the tank was 250 gallons and not 500, though a 250 gallon tank makes a very significant missile. It appears that a very large beetle killed pine tree blew down during the night. It brought down a power pole with a transformer attached. Dennis and Cris Meeks from the fire dept. put out a fire at that location. There was no fire link between that point and the cabins that burned, leading to the opinion that the cabin fires started when power lines were ripped from the cabins. Therefore, it appears critical that RFL residents remove dead pine trees, ESPECIALLY those that are near power lines or power poles.
The following is the original posting of the event. It was written the day after the fire.

We had a very serious event in Red Feather Village last night, but it could have been So Much Worse!!!

Here is a chronological explanation of what we believe occurred:

At just after 4 AM, residents and property owners were allowed to return to their homes/cabins.

So, if you look over the event detailed above, it is easy to see that things could have been so much worse. We are sorry for the loss of two cabins. The damage to the POA building can be repaired. No water entered the POA building and the roof is thought to be in tact. The POA building is insured. There may be minor errors in the detail above, but based on a number of conversations from eye witnesses, we believe the above is quite accurate.

Many many thanks to all the volunteers and others that saved the village, and probably many of our homes and cabins. You are such great folks.

Below are some pictures:

East Wall of POA Bldg

This is the right side of the POA entry doorway.

Inspections should be available in late April. If you need help looking for pine beetle attacks, please go to the “Beetles” link and request a free inspection. Ignoring a problem will lead to the loss of many additional trees. As you look at our hillsides, it is obvious this problem is growing worse. An inspection on Pocahontas on 4/26/2011 resulted in over 20 severely attacked trees vs. zero attacks in the past. None of these trees had been sprayed. You will do yourself and your neighbors a big favor. YOU CAN SAVE YOUR TREES!!!

There have been several inquiries about spraying. The POA does not make specific company recommendations, however it is recommended that you spray in early late May or very early June. In past years, late June was fine, but the milder winters have brought about an earlier flying season, so getting it done by June 8 would be a good idea.

The weather station has been fairly reliable of late….except for occasional power outages at the library. A couple of folks are now trained to address problems, so things should remain pretty stable. Our new camera has higher resolution than the old one, so pictures are a little clearer. Take a look on the weather link on this page. Temperature, wind speed, etc. updates every 5 minutes 24/7. The camera is fully operational and looks to the south over Ramona Lake. The camera reports every 5 minutes during daylight hours.

The Red Feather Plan Advisory Committee still has two current vacancies that need to be filled. Two long term members expect to “retire” in December, which creates more opportunities. Serving on this committee is not very time consuming and can be a significant contribution to our beautiful place. RFL property owners and those that have an association with Red Feather can learn more about this committee at: RFL PAC Info. Though this committee cannot control what changes occur in Red Feather, it does make recommendations to the County Commissioners based on input obtained from the general community. The primary objective of the committee is to maintain the character and quality of Historic Red Feather. The committee meets monthly on the second Thursday at 1:30 PM in the Firehouse conference room. The current focus is on water quality in Red Feather.