Tree Removal in Niwot

The Left Hand Water District built a 2 million gallon water tank in 1969 at the top of Gunbarrel Ridge in Niwot.  Over the years several subdivisions have developed on the hill below the tank, including the Somerset subdivision.  The District allowed trees to be planted on District property by the developer of the Somerset subdivision to partially screen the tank, and we have worked with the Somerset HOA for many years to allow them to  maintain the trees.

Last year, an inspection by an engineering firm that specializes in water tank safety and design, revealed some very serious damage to the tank, caused by the load of the berm surrounding one side of the tank, on which the trees had been planted.  Because the damage, if left unrepaired, could cause catastrophic failure of the tank, the District had no choice but to begin the process of planning the tank repair and berm removal, as well as a plan to replace the trees as a distance farther away from the tank to avoid further damage.

Repairs to the tank began in January of 2010, once the District was able to empty the tank and temporarily provide water to the customers normally served by that tank from another nearby tank through a pump system. On April 6, 2010, the District received a grading permit from Boulder County to remove the berm , with conditions regarding future screening and painting of the tank.  

The repairs to the tank must be completed immediately and the tank brought back into service, because the temporary water supply cannot provide enough water in the busy summer months to maintain fire-fighting storage water for the Somerset area.  We have begun the berm and tree removal process, and look forward to working with the Somerset residents to enhance the landscape screening on our property while protecting the health and safety of all our customers.