We were informed on 7/27/17 that our monthly drinking water test has come back positive for E.Coli and Total Coliform Bacteria. Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source. The state of Colorado has ordered a boil order.

July has been a very wet month here and we believe this is what is causing the problem. This affects our drinking water spring only, not the pools or ponds.

We are providing commercial water to fill your water bottles and encourage everyone to bring water with them.

If you have questions or concerns please give us a call at 719-256-4315.

Below is a copy of the boil order:

DRINKING WATER WARNING
Valley View Hot Springs (PWSID CO0255850)

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
Hiervan el Agua Antes de Usarla

E. coli and total coliform bacteria with no chlorine residual were found in the water supply between 07/24/2017 and 07/29/2017. These bacteria can make you sick, and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems.

Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.

What does this mean? What should I do?

o DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one (1) minutes, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

o E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

o If you have an infant, severely compromised immune system, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your doctor about drinking this water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

What is being done?

o We will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water. 
o We are providing commercial safe drinking water and following all recommendations and state mandates.

We anticipate resolving the problem by as soon as possible. For more information, please contact OLT’s Facility Manager Mark Jacobi at or 719-298-0660.

*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*

Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo o hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.

This notice is being sent to you by the Valley View Hot Springs
Colorado Public Water System ID#: CO0255850
Date distributed: 7/27/2017
Generic Flushing and Sanitization Procedure for the Distribution System

The flushing and sanitizing of a drinking water system begins at the treatment plant and proceeds systematically outward to all ends of the distribution system. Proper flushing, sanitation, and bacteriological testing are required prior to lifting a boil-water advisory.

1. The first step is to increase the disinfectant (chlorine) level leaving the properly operating treatment plant, and entering the distribution system, to between 3 and 4 mg/l (free chlorine).

2. The next step is to systematically begin flushing from the entry point of the distribution system outwards to all ends of the distribution system. Adequate flushing can be easily verified by measuring for the increased disinfectant residual at each flushing point.

3. After flushing, the disinfectant (chlorine) residual level is returned to the normal operating range and the system is once again flushed until the disinfectant (chlorine) level at the system’s furthest tap is within the normal operating range, generally greater than 0.2 mg/l but less than 2.0 mg/l free chlorine.

4. Once the quality of finished water has stabilized throughout the distribution system, microbiological samples (Standard Coliform Test) must be collected at representative locations, (minimum of 3 to 10 sample points), in the distribution system, including all ends of the system. Disinfectant (chlorine) levels in the sampled water must also be measured at the same time the microbiological samples are collected.

5. If the above microbiological monitoring results indicate unsafe conditions (total coliform – positive, on any single sample) the above procedure must be re-implemented until the microbiological monitoring results indicate safe conditions, (total coliform – negative, on all sample locations).

6. Submit results in a written document summarizing all activities undertaken to fix the treatment problem, flush and sanitize the distribution system, and results of all laboratory and field-testing.

Introducing the New Telescope at Orient Land Trust.   See the video below.

The rain clouds have blocked the night skies the past two weeks. We are glad for the rain even as we lament the blocked view of the stars. The thirsty mountains are drinking it in and clear nights will return. When they do, take time on a clear evening to look through the eyepiece.

There are guests that wait for 10:00 pm and the quiet hours. All day long people are playing in the water, meeting friends and family for conversation and laughter. Some people come to celebrate and make music. All day long, those activities are welcome and expected. At 10:00 pm the time begins for listening to the flow of the water, watching the sky and stars as the warm water relaxes and soothes. You can help! From 10:00 pm to 8:00 am, keep the noise to a minimum. Leave the car turned off in the parking lot. Save the conversations for later. Be sensitive to the night, the fireflies, the dark. Let's give a few hours every 24 hours to those who come for peace, reflection, and relishing all too rare quiet.

August 4 and 5 are the dates for this year's Member Appreciation Weekend. Orient Land Trust would like to make this time to thank all members for their support and contributions. OLT members communicate the values of OLT, help keep the community alive, and provide the funding for enduring land conservation work. Members are vital to OLT's continuing to function. To extend our gratitude, we offer some special events during the weekend. There will be two bands; Friday night, Whitewater Ramble and Saturday night, Tumbleweed. Potluck supper Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning, breakfast is provided by OLT and served by staff and volunteers. Remember that this weekend is member's only - no guests. Our capacity limits will be waived and all members will be admitted. This usually means more people than normal so share the space gracefully. We also ask that, after you unload your supplies, you park along the road, which will make more room for people.

Some of the most exciting new additions at Everson Ranch this summer are the new honey bee hives. We have two hives with the Italian Strain and one hive of the Carniolan Strain. During the 1st year the colonies will build up their troops along with enough honey to get them through the winter, Next year we should be collecting honey and other products that the hives produce (including beeswax, propolis, pollen and royal jelly). In addition to our new hives we also have at least six natural hives on the land.

Honeybees live in colonies with one queen running the whole hive. Worker honeybees are all females and are the only bees most people ever see flying around outside of the hive. They forage for food, build the honeycombs, and protect the hive. Many species still occur in the wild, but honeybees are disappearing from hives due to colony collapse disorder. Scientists are not sure what is causing this collapse.

Honeybees are important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They live on stored honey and pollen all winter and cluster into a ball to conserve warmth. All honeybees are social and cooperative insects. Members of the hive are divided into three types. Workers forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean, and circulate air by beating their wings. The queen's job is simple—she lays the eggs that will spawn the hive's next generation of bees. There is usually only a single queen in a hive. If the queen dies, workers will create a new queen by feeding one of the worker females a special food called "royal jelly." This elixir enables the worker to develop into a fertile queen.

Queens regulate the hive's activities by producing chemicals that guide the behavior of the other bees. Male bees are called drones—the third class of honeybee. Several hundred drones live in each hive during the spring and summer, but they are expelled for the winter months when the hive goes into a lean survival mode.

With even just one hive you can help grow local gardens, fruit orchards, vegetable plantations, etc. The survival of plants depends on pollination, and the honey bee accounts for 80 percent of all pollination done by insects. Without the honey bee's services, more than a third of the fruits and vegetables that humans consume would be lost.

Bee sure to stop by the ranch and learn what's all of the buzz with beekeeping!

Thank you Members! Each year, OLT celebrates and gives thanks for our members during Member Appreciation Weekend. Anyone can become a member and no members are turned away. With so many fun-lovin' folks, we ask everyone to park down the road from the Welcome Center and be especially mindful of one another and our delicate space. Our supply of ice is limited and we encourage sharing tent spaces whenever possible. 

Enjoy live music at the Pavilion from 9 pm-around 1 am on Friday and Saturday nights..

Friday Night Band: Whitewater Ramble

Described as “High-Octane Rocky Mountain DanceGrass”, Whitewater Ramble (WWR) uses a simple recipe to craft it’s sound: start with bluegrass instrumentation, add drums, and finish with a boundary-less approach to grassing-up everything from disco house grooves to roots to Americana. The Colorado-bred quintet combines the elements of mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, upright bass, drums and vocals to explore the musical boundaries of multiple genres and to fuel their own mixture of original music and innovative cover song interpretations. http://whitewaterramble.com/

Saturday Night Band: Tumbleweed

The history of Member Appreciation Weekend wrapped up in one of the valley's finest bands.  Enjoy classic favorites done right. We've been lucky to have Tumbleweed play at the hot springs many times over the years and it's great to have them back in 2017.

OLT is thrilled to have this wonderful event at the Everson Ranch.  To learn more about it contact Rustic Roots directly.

Rustic Roots campfire jamming camp announces its 7th year, at the Everson Ranch in the San Luis Valley - August 7-13, 2017.  Join Enion & David Pelta-Tiller (Taarka), Jake Schepps (Round Window Radio), Sandra Wong, Ian Haegele (Thunder and Rain), Joy Adams & Andy Reiner (Half Pelican / Whitewater Ramble), Hazel Ketchum & John Holenko (The Hungry Monks) and Jerry Bryant for music classes, campfire jamming, creative cooking and howling at the moon!  Instrumental workshops for voice, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, cello, bass, nyckelharpa and ukelele.  Jamming includes bluegrass, old time, blues, Wernick Method jamming, Songwriting, Grateful Dead songs, Celtic styles, Scandinavian, swing, improvised music, sea shanties and more!  Opportunities for hiking (nearby mountains including 14ers, bat caves, Great Sand Dunes National Park), hot springs soaking, and access to nearby towns Crestone & Sagauche.  Live in a tent - play music all the time - be a human - make and eat the best food - collaboration encouraged - flushing toilets/showers - families and non-musicians welcome - come for the whole week or just a part!  Sign up and more information at www.rusticroots.net

We wish to introduce 5 licensed therapists at Valley View and hope you will make an advance appointment to ensure your treatment while you are here.

Contact your therapist directly to schedule. We have a great team...
offering multiple massage modalities, watsu and reflexology.
When you arrive, check to see which therapist is on call for the day you desire and call them for an appointment, or call your favorite therapist directly to check their availability.

Massage Therapists

 Cynthia Nielsen - Massage Therapist, Yoga Teacher (OLT Massage Therapy Coordinator)

(email)  719-298-0360

"...bodywork that settles the mind and touches the heart..."

Cynthia is an intuitive massage therapist, reflexologist & Water Being~

Modalities include: Watsu, DT, myofascial, motion palpation & structural alignment. Your massage may include handmade salves, aromatherapy and warm river rocks.  

*Attend Local Yoga classes w Cynthia during your OLT/VVHS visit.

 Jane Adorney - Massage Therapist

720-512-1802

Jane's passion for bodywork has continued to grow during the 24 years she has been practicing. As a student of mindfulness, she values being present and deep listening, both to the needs and wants of her clients, and to the body's more subtle ways of communication. Jane has an intuitive, nurturing and hands on approach. Her modalities include deep tissue, swedish, aromatherapy. chakra balancing, reiki and hot stone massage. She creates her own organic lotions and oil blends.

 Steve Fillenberg - Massage Therapist

720-512-1803

Steve brings over 30 years of hands on experience, both in the United States and Europe. He incorporates many massage modalities into his work, including neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue, trigger point, structural realignment and energetic therapies. Over the years he has worked alongside medical doctors pre and post surgery, and has been able to help his clients navigate pain relief, stress related issues and trauma. Steve's experience as a teacher of Tai Chi and Chi Kung has also helped him cultivate a keen sense of a person's energy flow and body dynamics.

 Suzanne Rouge - BSE Certified Reflexologist

970-308-1415

Reflexology is acupressure on feet, hands and ears. It induces deep relaxation, increases circulation and clears neuropathways. Creating an alignment with the natural world, Suzanne reads auras, uses sacred numerology, medicine wheel insights, and elemental breathwork to bring the body into balance. Her mission is to teach people how to heal themselves.

http://www.hummingbirdhorizons.com 

 Anita Poushan - Massage Therapist (Out until March 15, 2018)

202-286-6882

Anita offers integrated massage therapy combining shiatsu, swedish, reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy & hydrotherapy. Trained at the Crestone Healing Arts Center she plays with the intersection of western physiology & traditional eastern lineages of body work offering a holistic approach to massage. Her treatments help to amplify each individual bodies unique self-healing abilities.

This Intern program is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Mary and Ben Eiseman Education Fund at Orient Land Trust. The Eiseman family states, "For the interns, there is a financial reward for their efforts. They will also have the opportunity to learn the values of character that come from labor within a team environment. These should include how to be on time, how to work with a boss, how to follow instructions and directions, and the innumerable skills required of adulthood. But equally importantly, our family cannot think a better way to engender love and respect for the natural beauty that daily surrounds each of these students than by working in the San Luis Valley to keep trails navigable, species diversity robust, and waterways healthy."
This year there are two interns for the Everson Ranch both from Crestone CO.

Rosalea Anderson, who will be attending Colorado School of Mines in the fall, describes her reason for wanting the experience as "the thought of getting this job is so exciting because I'd love to do something productive this summer and be outside. All the money I earn will go toward paying for my college tuition. I really admire the values behind the Orient Land Trust Intern program. Through working with OLT I hope I can learn a lot to help prepare me for college. Particularly responsibility resilience and how to make friends while working together. I'd say that personal growth would be equally if not more valuable than earnings."

Marlon Jacobi, student at CU Boulder, states "I have a lot on my plate for my college experience, and I will need enough funding to get it all done in time. I want to work for every dollar I spend for my education this summer, because I need to progressively become more and more independent as I take these huge strides. College is by no means cheap, but is by all means necessary if I want to get the proper training for my passion. I want to apply my past work ethic to somewhere outside where I can really use my hands and help out on a ranch."

We have Sharea Jones, from Moffat, CO,, as an intern Discovery Host for the OLT Welcome Center.

Sharea is an upcoming junior at Mountain Valley High School and explains, "I would like to start working and getting money, mostly for clothes but also to set some aside for future plans. I would also like to just be able to do something fun with my own money. After I graduate high school I plan on going to college to be a pediatrician."

We wish these students the greatest fortune and depth of experience this summer and extend our gratitude for all of the help we expect from them!

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the Orient Land Trust with wildlife photographer Jim Welch! There is no fee for our educational tours, please pre-register at the welcome center.