September - October News

“We are a covenant-based community with fair, balanced and consistent standards.

We are focused on the preservation and enhancement of our tranquil mountain environment, lake and recreational amenities.”

In This Issue:

Thanks To Our Volunteers, Fire Ban, Labor Day Regatta, Pancake Breakfast, Kids Ice Cream Social, Fall Colors Walk and Lunch, Sip n' Paint, Boat Rack Removal Deadline, Driveway Snow Plow Contractors, Clubhouse Hours Fall/Winter, Leash Your Pets Reminder, Pike Numbers, Portal Up To Date, Cardboard Recycle Problems, Shower Before Pool. Lake Facts.

Hats Off To Our Amazing Volunteers!

Summer is such a busy time at CLCC. From our Memorial Day festivities, Slash n' Trash, thru Labor Day Weekend. We would like to extend the warmest thanks to all of our volunteers who make these events possible.

Thank You, CLCC Board and Staff

Stage 2 Fire Ban Still In Effect

On August 7th, Grand County issued a county wide fire ban. Stage 2 restrictions help reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger. Please help us keep our communities safe by complying with current fire restrictions. Violating restrictions will result in a $1,000 fine. One small spark can cause a devastating wildfire. See link below for up to date fireman information.

Stage 2 Fire Ban

Labor Day Regatta

Saturday, August 31st @ 10AM

Office Beach

End of Summer, Labor Day Regatta! Bring your kayaks, paddle-boards and other watercraft for a friendly race across the lake and back. Spectators welcome. There will be separate races according to age group and type of watercraft. Come out and join the fun.

Annual Pancake Breakfast

Sunday, September 1st @ 9AM

Clubhouse Gazebo

Our end of summer breakfast has become a tradition here at Columbine Lake. Breakfast will feature: Pancakes, sausage, eggs, OJ, coffee, water. Gluten free pancakes will also be served. Bloody Mary's and mimosas will be available to adults who provide proper ID. Be sure to bring your homeowner badge. Look forward to seeing you.

2nd Annual CLCC Kids Beach Day

And Ice Cream Social

Sunday, September 1st - 12PM - 2PM

End of summer special celebration for the kids. Our CLCC kids will enjoy Arts and Crafts, volleyball, corn hole and of course ICE CREAM! Join us at the office beach.

A special thanks to the Muraugh's and Ellis's for hosting this event!

Fall Foliage Walk and Snack Lunch

Saturday, September 28th - 2PM

We will be meeting at the clubhouse parking lot for a leisurely walk around our neighborhood. Mother nature provides a breathtaking backdrop of color this time of year. Be sure to bring your camera, and a snack lunch to enjoy after the walk.

Sip n' Paint

Saturday, October 12th - 5pm

CLCC Clubhouse Meeting Room

Back by popular demand! Save the Date! Paint a custom fall lake scene of our very own Columbine Lake. Join us at the clubhouse, bring a snack and beverage if desired or you can Zoom at home. No experience necessary. Further details to follow.

End Of Season Boat Removal

Is October 31st

Remember to remove your watercraft from the lake shore and all boat racks must be cleared prior to 10/31/24. Any vessels remaining lakeside beyond that date will be removed by CLCC personnel. A fine of $50 will apply as well as a $25 per month storage fee until vessel is reclaimed. (Owner's Regulations: Article XIII, Section 13.01)

Snow Removal Contractors

Chris Atencio - 303-915-4596

(Mainly west end of neighborhood)

Craig Cranston - 970-531-8842

(Mainly east end of neighborhood)

Matt Reed-Tolonen- 970-531-0179

CLCC cannot guarantee the contractor’s performance and the owner should perform his or her own due diligence inquiries, such as contacting former clients of each contractor to see what their experience has been.

Clubhouse Hours Change

After Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day marks the end of summer. Hope everyone had a good one.

Wednesday, September 4th, our clubhouse will go on our fall-winter schedule, listed at the bottom of this newsletter. Our summer hours remain in place until then.

Saturday 8/31 -12pm - 8pm

Sunday 9/1-10am - 6pm

Labor Day Monday 9/2- 12pm - 8pm

Pets Must Be Leashed On CLCC Common Areas!

We have seen numerous violations recently to our leash restrictions within CLCC property. The only exception to this rule is if your dog is swimming, while hanging around the lake or walking on community roads a leash is required at all times. This rule is for everyone's protection.

Please review Owner's Regulations: Article XVII Pets, Section 17.02 Class 2 Violation $125 fine will apply.

Northern Pike Up-Date

As the summer comes to a close we like to update our owners of the Pike numbers so far this year. Our first pike was brought into the office late June and there has been no shortage of fisherman cashing in since then. Thus far 61 fish eating machines have been removed from our lake.

Keep in mind that these predatory fish can live an average of 15 years. They spawn in the early spring, with a large female laying an average of 75,000 eggs in shallow, grassy areas, per season. They do remain active throughout the winter months but less likely to catch during spawning season.

Good Work fisherman and Happy Fishing!

Keep Your Portal Up To Date

Our use of property management soft wear, not only helps us stay organized, but gives you, the homeowner one place to go for all HOA information, architectural review updates, events and invoices.

Remember to check your contact information periodically, and make the necessary changes.

Cardboard Recycling Only

It Will Go Away If We Can't Do Better!

Regular Trash In Our Cardboard Recycle Bins

Plastic Bags In Cardboard Recycle Bins

What's the problem? Not enough signs?

* Once upon a time we had full co-mingling recycling. But that was before it had been abused so often by folks throwing non-recycle items in the bin, despite the signs, emails and newsletter videos explaining proper recycling. This led to numerous fines with our trash company. Safety issues of folks diving in to retrieve that plastic bag, has also been of concern. Sad for those who play by the rules and really try to recycle properly.

We get a lot of items in cardboard boxes these days, and it seems like the least we can do, right?

* Well, we will soon lose the cardboard recycling too. Trash is getting thrown in with the cardboard way too often leading to numerous violations costing our association $225.00 each time.

* Trash thrown in the recycle also costs our wildlife their lives. Trash, improperly disposed in our non-critter proof recycle bins, draws bears, raccoons, ermines, pine martins, and fox, these animals can end up trapped in the bin. We will continue to monitor these issues which will be discussed at the next board meeting.

Remember, plastic and Styrofoam packaging must be removed and cardboard must fit in to the container.

We must do better!

Those food smells in our cardboard only bins were just too hard for this little fellow to resist. Donnie Kern found this little guy trapped at the bottom of recycling, during a routine maintenance check. He was one of the lucky ones to be rescued. We can only imagine how many others were not so lucky.

All Boxes must be broken down and able to fit fully inside the bin. This also was a $225 fine!

ALL WATERCRAFT MUST BE CLEAN, DRAINED AND DRY BEFORE YOU PUT IT IN COLUMBINE LAKE
If you take your watercraft of any kind to ANY other lake in Colorado or out of state, inspect your boat for zebra mussels before entering Columbine!
Zebra mussels can live 5-7 days out of water; their larvae can live up to 21 days

Zebra Mussel

Problems Continue

Water providers and professionals have recently stepped up warnings of the danger of zebra mussel infestations beginning in Colorado. As we already know: The destructive, lake-killing Zebra mussels have arrived in Colorado in Highline Lake on the western slope, northwest of Grand Junction. That lake had to be drawn down 50 feet in order to mitigate Zebra mussels. Columbine Lake is not immune so we all need to be Zebra mussel-aware to prevent an infestation! As part of the Colorado River Headwaters, we have a duty and responsibility to take all precautions. Most recently Denver Water warned that even PADDLEBOARDS can carry eggs–they can latch onto any substructure. We must ensure our watercraft of any kind are CLEAN, DRAINED AND DRY before going onto Columbine.

It's The Rule...

Shower Before The Pool!

Please remember to rinse off in the shower prior to your swim. Perfume, bug spray, sun screen, aftershave, moose and hairspray, deodorant, body lotion all end up in our pool's filtration system when you don't.

The manufacturer of our filter system recommends changing the filters every 6 months. Our maintenance team changes our filters every week. Yes, incredibly at the cost of $150.00 per pack of four. Lets all try to remember to shower off prior to your swim.

Trash Dumpster Abuse

Hits Record High!

Our dumpster system was put into place so that household trash can be safely collected and disposed of without drawing in our precious wildlife. Yet some still don't get the concept. From trash outside of dumpster, on top of the rammer, to construction materials thrown in. If you have a contractor working on your home, they must take construction trash with them or have a receptacle in place to dispose of such items. This month we had midsize kitchen appliances and electronics which let to fines. This occurred just two days after slash n' trash.

Please use our dumpster only for it's intended use. Please make friends, family and all renters aware of this.

Columbine Lake Facts

We have had a lot of questions this summer about our lake. So for our new owners, and just if you ever wondered, we're repeating this article from 2022. All facts below were taken from past lake study reports.

Columbine Lake is considered a large natural lake, creek and spring fed. One of its main sources is the Harbison ditch which provides an abundance of snow melt in the spring. Our staff spends in excess of 500 man hours per year maintaining the Harbison alone.

A physical survey, taken in 2017 indicated a maximum depth of 46 feet. The lake comprises approximately 70 surface acres, a volume of 57 million gallons, and the average depth, given gradual slopes on the northeast and southwest sides of approximately 25ft. Summer water temperatures average 62 degrees (F) at the surface to 43 degrees (F) at the deepest point.

Columbine Lake gives us opportunities for recreational fishing, small craft boating, and wildlife watching. Just like all natural resources, we can be our lakes worse enemy. We should all do our best to respect and preserve its natural beauty.

(Map below shows inlets, outlet, and approximate depths across the lake.)

Office Hours

For In Person Visits

Monday - Friday 1pm - 4pm

Closed Saturday - Sunday

office@columbinelake.com

970-627-8120

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Clubhouse Fall- Winter Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

4pm - 8pm

Saturday 12pm - 8pm

Sunday 10am - 6pm

Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays

Lap Swim - Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 9am-12pm,

Sunday 9am-10am

970-557-3291