IN THIS ISSUE:
- Committee updates
- Wildlife awareness
- Firewise Activities
News from Wilson Ranch
Spring is here, and the Methow Valley is absolutely buzzing with life! The pass is open, everyone is busy recreating outside, and gardeners are delighted to be able to work in their gardens. Our newsletter this season is all about updating residents on what our committees have been up to and what community activities are coming up next month.
DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS
The Design Review Committee has has spent the last fall and winter updating the design review process and relevant documents. Please note there are two checklists for design review projects: one for Homeowners (Phase I and II) and one for Early Winters cabin owners. These can be found here on the website. Just a reminder that any home or landscaping project must be approved by the Design Review Committee before work begins.
WATER/IRRIGATION
Our newly formed Water Committee has been busy this year creating a primer to help residents understand the components of the community water system. Many thanks to Bob Davis for spearheading this effort and putting the document together. If you have any specific questions or comments about this primer, please reach out to the Water Committee directly.
In other water related news, Marvin and I will be taking residential meter readings on April 29th. There is no need to do anything or be present while we read the meters. Currently we are working directly with Palm Construction to install water meters at the Heli-Barn, Jack’s Hut, and some of the cabins. For those homeowners who do not currently have meters, Marvin will be reaching out to you very soon about installation (if he hasn’t already done so). As stated in the CC&Rs, all homes in Wilson Ranch require water meters, and even the homes in Elsie’s Meadow (Phase II homes have their own separate water right, but still need to stay compliant) will need meters installed. Once water meters have all been installed on Phase I homes, the Water Committee and management will focus on the homes in Elsie’s Meadow. More information will follow.
Eddy from Windy Valley will be coming out in early to mid-May to start up our irrigation system. If you have any issues or questions for him, please let us know.
FIREWISE
The latest addition to our Firewise mitigation efforts is the addition of free green waste dumpsters! They are completely paid for by the Okanogan County Conservation District with grant money with the goal of improving air quality and reducing fuels. These dumpsters (one for woody waste and one for green/weed waste) will be placed in the parking area near the recycling center from May 30th – June 5th. Please refer to this flyer for more info about what goes in the bins. It sounds like there will be grant money available for the dumpster rental again in the fall, so if this event goes well, we may have a chance to host them again.
All green waste can go into the dumpsters or be piled at the roadside. Marvin and I will move the piles to the dumpsters before they get picked up on the 5th. Please do not leave any piles by the roadside after June 5th — they will not get picked up and you must move them to the burn pile.
We are still working out the details for our Firewise work party in May. Since I will be traveling during Memorial Day weekend, and the Chairperson will not be able to attend, we are looking for volunteers to help organize the work party and possibly get sandwiches/snacks (the WRA will reimburse you–Firewise grant money does not cover this expense). If you can host an event or help in any way, please let me know! If by chance there is not an official work party this year, we still strongly encourage our residents to work on fuel reduction activities at their homes or common areas. Please continue to track your volunteer hours and expenses related to Firewise work or fuel removal. I’ll be collecting this info in early June.
A project that currently needs attention is trimming back the ceanothus and other shrubs from the roadsides. This is for fire safety and to keep the roads as wide as possible for emergency vehicles. If folks have time to work on this during their time at Wilson Ranch these coming weeks, that would be very helpful. Whatever residents and the work party don’t complete, we can have a contractor come in to finish up since we have the $3000 Firewise grant. Another grant project that has been ongoing this Spring is thinning trees in two common areas near the Freestone Inn and the back side of the trail near Cabin 15. This thinning was recommended by a visiting entomologist and our local arborist, who works carefully with local DNR management. The reason for this thinning is 3-fold—it removes competition for nutrients and water since the trees aren’t as crowded close together, it reduces risk of fire transmission, and it reduces the transmission of pests.
BEARS and WILDLIFE
Black bears have emerged from their dens and are looking for food for themselves and their cubs. At Wilson Ranch we want to do everything we can to keep garbage and other attractants away from bears. We did a good job of this last summer, and we want to continue and expand our efforts this year. Please join us in this effort to make Wilson Ranch a safe place for people and for bears.
Management recently met with resident Gordon Congon and Madelyn Hamilton, a Public Lands and Wildlife Coordinator with the Methow Valley Citizens Council. We all agreed the best method to keep our residents and guests safe is to inform and educate. We hope that with enough public awareness and participation, we can prevent conflict with our local black bear population. Our website has a page in the Environment menu (in the public facing portion of the website) called Living with Wildlife. There you can find the latest PDFs to print and have at your homes/rentals. Gordon has also kindly picked up some fantastic brochures that should be posted at your homes. These flyers and brochures can be found in an envelope on the cork board in the recycling/garbage center. Marvin will have some at the Inn as well. Please take anything that you need and be sure to take a moment to update your info at your homes for your guests.
Time for Serenity, Anyone?
by William Stafford
I like to live in the sound of water,
in the feel of mountain air. A sharp
reminder hits me: this world is still alive,
it stretches out there shivering toward its own
creation, and I’m part of it. Even my breathing
enters into this elaborate give-and-take,
this bowing to sun and moon, day or night,
winter, summer, storm, still–this tranquil
chaos that seem to be going somewhere.
This wilderness with a great peacefulness in it.
This motionless turmoil, this everything dance.
Please contact Rachael Plemel or Marvin Sutton with any questions
methowvalleyps@gmail.com
msutton@freestoneinn.com