The Mission of the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus is to preserve the rural character of our unique valleys, to protect our ecosystems, and to foster communication and participation with in the community.

During the past 18 months the Caucus Board has actively pursued its mission.

Preserving the rural character

• The Caucus Board has spearheaded an initiative with Pitkin County to revise the existing Land Use Code as it relates to agricultural buildings. The Board’s recommendations have received a favorable first reading by Pitkin County.  Should the recommendations receive a favorable second reading the County’s land use code would be revised to permit an increase in barn height for function and esthetics; to exempt hay storage buildings from floor area measurements; to exempt animal shelters from floor area measurements; to exempt equipment storage buildings of up to 990 square feet from floor area measurements for properties of 20 to 160 acres; and to exempt barns from floor area measurements according to a sliding scale based on property acreage.
• Further, a citizen Advisory Agricultural Review Committees would be formed to assist the Community Development Department of Pitkin County in the review of agricultural building permits to determine if the proposed building is designed to support an agricultural operation.
• The Caucus Board is also working with the County on the formulation of new land use codes regarding the installation of Solar Thermal and Photo Voltaic Arrays. The Board encourages the use of solar arrays in our valley, but has made a number of recommendations to the County to ensure that the installations are neighbor friendly. These recommendations are expected to be adopted after the second reading of Pitkin County’s new solar land use code.
• At the County’s request, the Caucus Board in the past year has recommendations on eight different land use issues.  These issues were as diverse as lot line adjustments, a site plan review for a solar array, a construction management plan, a subdivision of a large ranch, several house plan reviews, and whether to locate medical marijuana growth facilities in the caucus area. The recommendations of the caucus are made in an advisory capacity with the final decision remaining with the County.

• For the past 20 years, the Caucus Board has engaged in a variety of activities to insure that Snowmass Creek in stream flows are sufficient to maintain functioning healthy stream ecosystems in our spectacular Snowmass Creek Valley.  Since 1978, the water district serving Snowmass Village and the ski resort has had a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to pump up to 6 cfs over the Divide to the Snowmass Village water treatment plant.  The drought years of 2002-2003 revealed the critical need for a raw water storage reservoir to "buffer" direct water draws from Snowmass Creek when water use and demand is high in the Village and stream flows are low, typically in both mid-winter and late summer. 
• Working closely with the Ziegler family and the Snowmass Water & Sanitation District in 2008-09, the Board supported the various land use, water court and other approvals for the expanded 225 acre foot Ziegler Reservoir located on the Divide and scheduled to be completed in 2012. 
• During 2011, the Board’s consultants have been preparing a comprehensive Snowmass Village Build-out Impact Study in order to insure that Ziegler Reservoir is operated in a manner that avoids protracted low flows in the creek, and that Snowmass Village water usage is efficient.
• In early June, the Caucus Board, in cooperation with the Pitkin County Road and Bridge Department and Windstar, organized and sponsored an Annual Road Clean Up Day. Volunteers picked up trash along major roads in the caucus area, followed by a lunch at Windstar. Prizes were awarded by local merchants for the Best of Trash. All ages participated and a good time was had by all.
• The Caucus Board organized an educational weed eradication day at the Monastery. Volunteers learned to identify and removed noxious weeds on about five acres. The caucus encourages all homeowners to annually eradicate noxious weeds on their properties in order to maintain the natural flora of our valleys.

• A special thank you to Holly McLain who opened her spectacular Moon Run Ranch last year to about 100 residents of all ages from the Snowmass Capitol Creek area for a picnic and BBQ. New and old friends gathered to socialize and enjoy the afternoon sun in good company.

     Please note that Holly will be hosting our picnic again this year on August 21 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Bring your
     own food and drink. There is no admission fee. If you would like to do so, tax-deductible donations to support
     the work of your Caucus Board will be gratefully accepted at the party.

• The Board believes that its web site www.snowcapcaucus.org is a great communication vehicle for our residents to inform themselves regarding its activities on their behalf.