Homeowners Associations: Don't Stop Watering Lawns
Woman Received Warning Letter About Her Dry Lawn
POSTED: 9:48 a.m. MDT May 21, 2002
UPDATED: 10:58 a.m. MDT May 21, 2002
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. -- Residents voluntarily doing their part to save water because of the drought are being warned by homeowners associations that brown lawns violate neighborhood rules.
Associations in at least two subdivisions in Highlands Ranch and Westminster are enforcing their regulations, which seek to maintain a neighborhood's neat appearance.
Marilyn Geerdes, who lives in the Arrowhead Filing subdivision
of Westminster, sent a letter to management company Management
Specialists after receiving a note that said her thirsty lawn "creates an unsightly condition."
"I would say the entire state of Colorado is 'lacking in
water.' Perhaps you haven't heard, we are experiencing a drought,"
she said. "As a consequence of dry conditions, farmers may have to
sell their land and cattle, but we will have our lush, green lawns,
by golly."
Ken Hammack in Highlands Ranch received a similar notice.
"I was shocked," he said.
Neither Westminster, nor Douglas County, which governs Highlands
Ranch, have imposed water restrictions.
The city of Highlands Ranch asked residents on Monday to voluntarily conserve water by cutting down 20 percent, but did not make that a mandatory requirement as is the case in Aurora, Louisville, and the Western Slope towns of Parachute and Silt.
Karen Becker, a community manager for Management Associates,
said the drought doesn't let homeowners off the hook.
"A certain amount of stressed lawn is going to be acceptable
due to the conditions," she said. But, "to use water properly
doesn't mean you'll have a dead lawn."
Carrie Hugus, a spokeswoman for the 25,000-home Highlands Ranch
Community Association, said the association is asking homeowners to follow
guidelines of watering every three days, for up to 15 minutes.
"If homeowners follow those guidelines, their lawns will be
properly maintained," she said. "That's all we ask. We don't want
to waste water, but we don't want dead lawns, either."
Other communities, such as Boulder and
Lafayette, are preparing to pass restrictions.
Officials in Thornton and Brighton have said voluntary curbs
could become mandatory if severe drought conditions continue.
Previous Stories:
- May 20, 2002: Highlands Ranch Announces Water-Reduction Program
- May 15, 2002: Dry Conditions Prompt Front Range Water Restrictions
- May 15, 2002: Drought May Extinguish Fireworks
- May 14, 2002: Watering Off Schedule In Aurora? Pay Up
- May 14, 2002: Miller Moths Arriving Early This Year
- May 13, 2002: Why Is Highlands Ranch Water Off Color?
- May 8, 2002: Denver Water Calls For Voluntary Reductions
- March 22, 2002: Cities Consider Water Rationing
- February 8, 2002: Olympic Cloud Seeding Causing Colorado Drought?
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.









