2022 was also a dry year for Colorado, as it was for other western US states. Colorado gets most of its water from the Colorado River Basin. Over the past 22 years, the reservoirs of the Colorado River System have shrunk from 95% to 39% in terms of water. Tunnels and pipelines through the mountains discharge water from the Colorado River into reservoirs in cities like Colorado Springs and Denver. Colorado Springs gets 70 percent of its water from the Colorado River. Water is precious in the Western United States, not just because of its growing population. The droughts that often occur in this area also worry the cities. Forest fires also affect the water quality in reservoirs. Interestingly, Colorado Springs’ founder, General William Jackson Palmer, purposely named the city “Colorado Springs” to attract potential land buyers in other parts of the United States and the world. There are no significant springs or rivers in the city.
water reuse project
We have had “water restrictions” on gardens for years. From May to October the irrigation system can only be activated three times a week, before 10:00 and after 18:00. Last year, our municipal utility, C/S Utilities, started a water reuse project that recycled purified water from wastewater treatment plants and thus even surpassed the quality of drinking water. The project gives hope.
Colorado Public Utilities also recommend drought-tolerant plants, grasses, and trees for gardens and parks. This is called “Xeriscape” here. To show its customers how attractive a “Xeriscape” garden can look, C/S Utilities created its own Xeriscape demonstration garden years ago, which is always accessible and has been expanded several times. The term “Xeriscape” was coined in 1981 by a Denver Water Company employee. Because of our location – Colorado Springs is at 6,000 feet – we experience extreme temperature swings and successful planting is difficult. I threw here my gardening experiences from Germany many years ago.
Finally, due to a 2016 law change, up to 110 liters of rainwater can now be collected to irrigate lawns and gardens. Before the change, it was actually banned. Because the rain that falls on private property in Colorado and seeps into the ground belongs not to the owners, but to other residents of the Colorado River. We actually have a little more humidity in Colorado Springs than other areas. After weeks of spring drought, welcome precipitation in the form of snow arrived at the end of May. Many trees were damaged by the snow masses. We also had a lot of broken branches and we were busy for several days with cleanup work. Luckily we also had a lot of rain in the summer during the monsoon season.
Visit from Florida
This year we had visitors from Florida again. Son Daniel and grandson Mason and daughter Michelle were here as well. They had some exciting days too, but they weathered Hurricane Ian well. Initial predictions were for a direct hit on Tampa Bay. Children and grandchildren live not far away in Sarasota and Bradenton. Shortly before landfall, the storm moved slightly south, causing devastating damage in and around Fort Myers. The children’s quarters were not forcibly evacuated and their homes were little damaged.
Time for new adventures
In closing, we wish you a Merry Christmas and good luck in the new year, a time for new adventures, contentment and health. Best regards Birgit and Horst Brauckhof. We wish you a lot of fun and relaxation on the island! Many greetings also to Sabine and to Sandra, Jörn and Helga in Bremen. Cheers to our friends Ute and Michael, Christa and Manne, Mattis and Hannah, Barbara and Peter as well as Nina, Mehmet, Emily and Sophie. Keep your ears prickly and stay healthy.
Sigrid and Dan Alexander
Colorado Springs, CO
