Changes are in the works for Protect Our Wells (POW), the citizen-based advocacy group for El Paso County residents with private wells in the Denver Basin aquifers, which include the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe and Laramie Fox-Hills.”The POW Board of Directors has made significant strides in bringing the concerns of private well owners to the attention of the El Paso County Planning Commission, the board of county commissioners, and the state engineer’s office,” said Sandy Martin, newly elected POW president.She credits the successful efforts of past POW boards and POW consultant, hydrogeologist Julia Murphy of Groundwater Investigations. “Our next step is to focus on ways to involve our membership.”Martin said they will focus on communications. “Membership meetings will now occur quarterly, and each meeting will be advertised and open to the public,” she said. “Topics will be more local in nature, like updates on developments or water rights adjudication. POW members will receive a newsletter prior to each meeting.”Quarterly meetings will allow us to focus on getting to know our members better, know what their concerns are and let them help us develop plans to address them. We also need their help to stay on top of critical water issues, mobilize their friends and neighbors, attend community and legislative meetings or write letters.”POW accomplishments have included working with the county on revisions to the water supply chapter of the El Paso County land development code. POW also has recommended the county hire a hydrogeologist.Join POW for $25 per year or find out more by visiting its Web site at www.protectourwells.org or e-mail info@protectourwells.orgThe next POW meeting is Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Woodmen Valley Chapel at 8292 Woodmen Valley View. The program features Julia Murphy discussing, “Water Quality, Water Rights Adjudication.”New officers:Sandy Martin, President (719) 351-1640Fred Herman, Vice-president (719) 570-0342Mitch Baldwin, Secretary (719) 380-7980Rich Painter, Treasurer (719) 495-7054Pam Dawson, Director (719) 749-2342Bea Crandall, Director (719) 495-4213
