Beaver Activity – After a few reports of aggressive beaver activity, our trapper, Ross Hamilton, will be addressing our concerns.  We will report any further developments.

SCLA Annual Meeting – Saturday August 2 

10:00 a.m – SCLA Meeting – 637 River Run Drive, Lot between the Lummus and Bader Cabins.

12:00 p.m. – Potluck Lunch and Auction/Raffle to benefit the SCLA Scholarship Fund – Please RSVP to Sharon Eanes, sharon_eanes@msn.com with number joining for lunch and what you are bringing (list to date) Please contact Vicki Bader, v.bader@comcast.net if you have a donation for the Auction and Raffle.  

 5:00 p.m. –  Annual River Bottom Concert with our own Chris Collins! Bring your lawn chairs and coolers and enjoy the great music, friendships and fun! Suggested donation $20/person. All proceeds benefit the SCLA Scholarship Fund.

SCLA Annual Meeting Nominations for open positions-

This year we will be voting on two positions on the Board of Directors and one on the Architectural Committee. We encourage members to get involved in their neighborhood. Please consider throwing your name in the hat for this election and helping out. Send your inquiries to Clint Crowe or Vicki Bader.

Dear Sheep Creek Neighbors,

Sheep Creek is getting ready for a great summer season. Much has been accomplished this spring and there are a few opportunities for our members to pitch in.

You will see that our roads have had extensive maintenance work done including blading the gravel from the shoulders onto the road crown and repairing the potholes. The Sheep Creek Bridge required repair and that work is underway this week. The meadow pump house repairs and landscaping have been completed.

Our fire abatement team working with the Forestry Service has identified the critical fire risk areas in Sheep Creek. They have contracted the Youth Conservation Corps to arrive June 18 for a week to help our members clear the deadfall and brush from the lots that border the National Forest. We request all lot owners receiving notice to grant permission to include their lot in the cleanup. Many members have volunteered to join this important effort from June 18-26 in our neighborhood. The forestry service is loaning us their large chipper for a limited time to mulch the wood on each lot. You may use this chipper on your lot. Contact Neal Lummus for training and to sign the liability waiver before using.

We will also form a team to test our 18 fire hydrants this month. This is a good time to learn how to operate your closest fire hydrant. We are ordering two AEDs and will install one on the outside of two garages, the Kessler’s and the Lummus’. These devices can save lives. Learn how to use one during CPR training at our annual meeting.

Please plan to attend the SCLA Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 2nd at 10:00 a.m. on the banks of the Conejos River. Visit Sheep Creek and see the improvements.

For further information or to help on one of our teams, please contact any of the volunteer members of the Sheep Creek Board.

CONEJOS COUNTY FIREWISE TEAM will present on the free services they provide offered to help your home survive a wildfire.  Centauri High School Band Room, Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00 pm. Click here for more information.    

BOARD OF DIRECTORS meeting – Saturday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. MST – Call In Number (866) 398-2885; Pin Code: 687701

PLEASE OBSERVE SPEED LIMITS IN SHEEP CREEK – All members and visitors are asked to observe our posted speed limits. There have been three minor accidents reported that slower speed might have avoided. Our speed limit is 15 mph except for the two hills which are posted 5 mph.  Remember, as the weather gets nicer more of us our out walking with our families (dogs, children and grandchildren).  Your cooperation is appreciated!!

Mr Ross Hamilton, our trapper, has removed one large, 80 lb beaver and has found others causing the damage that various members have reported recently. He has scouted the area and will pursue these animals along their trails and trap them and remove them to prevent further tree damage in Sheep Creek. Please advise your guests to avoid areas where they find a trap and do not confront or hassle Mr. Hamilton, or he will take his traps and leave the area.  We will provide updates on his work. Normally, he can find and remove beavers in a short time and move to other work he has in the canyon.

   Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 6:45 PM – Planning Commission                                                           Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 9:30 AM –  Board of County Commissioners 

Any interested person may attend and be heard at any public meetings. Members of Sheep Creek are encouraged to attend one or both meetings and/or send emails to linda@co.conejos.co.us or mail to:

     Land Use Office, PO Box 197, Conejos, CO 81129.  

BOARD OF DIRECTORS meeting – Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 6:00 pm MST.  Call in number (877) 526-1243; Pin Code: 3744679#.

MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTINGS IN SHEEP CREEK – Several residents in Bear Creek have spotted a large male cougar in the meadow in front of Newcomer’s cabin on three separate days this past week.  Residents in Sheep Creek have also reported similar activity. Two contractors working for Neal Lummus also reported sightings in the same spot. The men are nervous about people coming in contact with this fairly bold lion and have asked Sheep Creek residents and visitors to be aware and report additional activity. As the weather starts to turn colder we will continue to have increased bear and mountain lion activity along with the normal coyotes, etc. Do not let you pets outside alone or run loose. If you do have an encounter:

• When you walk or hike make plenty of noise to reduce your chances of surprising a lion. A sturdy walking stick is a good idea; it can be used to ward off a lion. Make sure children are close to you and within your sight at all times. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.
• Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly yet firmly to it. Move slowly.
• Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
• Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won’t panic and run.
• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
• Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully. Remain standing or try to get back up

(http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/Pages/LionCountry1.aspx