Tag Archive for: Lands End Road

Grand Junction Water Supply

If you are moving here from another state, you may be wondering about the Grand Junction Water Supply. Where does Grand Junction get its drinking water? Does it taste good? Does the city supply water for irrigation? Do homeowners have their own wells? We have learned a lot living here and I am happy to share our knowledge and experience with you. If you are considering moving to Grand Junction, call me before you come for a visit!

Where Does Grand Junction Get Its Drinking Water?

Let’s start with the most popular question I get. Where does our water come from? We are lucky. We are the first ones to use the fresh snowmelt from the Grand Mesa as our drinking water. It’s stored in over 19 reservoirs on top of the Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world just 45 minutes east of here. It comes into Orchard Mesa to be treated and disbursed into our homes. Grand Junction provides water that exceeds the minimum standards for municipal drinking water.

In 2023, Grand Junction entered a drinking water taste test in Toronto, Canada. A city in Canada won first place, but Grand Junction won second place! Essentially saying we provide the best drinking water in the United States! Please thank Randi Kim, the utilities director for the City of Grand Junction for this!

Here’s a link to the American Water Works Association’s Best of the Best Water Taste Test Competition article with details. Awarded Best in the United States.

Grand Junction Water Supply starts here. Carson Lake view from standing on the dam

Carson Lake view from standing on the dam – Grand Junction Water supply starts here.

We have been to Carson Lake on the Grand Mesa which is at the head of the Kannah Creek Basin in the Grand Mesa National Forest. There were signs in the parking lot warning not to use motorized boats on the lake as it’s used to provide drinking water for the surrounding area. It’s beautiful. You can walk across the dam, there are trails nearby and we saw several groups fishing from the shore.

Does Grand Junction’s Water Taste Good?

YES! Every time we go to a restaurant, we order water. We drink it and it’s delicious. I can’t say that for other places we’ve visited. Sometimes their local water is so bad we need to order a pop or lemonade instead. If you currently use a home water filtration system where you live now, you probably won’t need one if you move to the Grand Valley. Try it for yourself and you’ll understand what I mean. We are thankful for our Grand Junction water supply from the Grand Mesa!

Living in Minnesota most of our water came from underground. The city built wells to access it. We got our water from our local city, and we drank it and used it to water our yard. We even had to add our own water softener because the water was “hard” and unpleasant to drink. In addition to that, we also added a Culligan water filtration system. Not here!

Where Does Irrigation Water Come From?

Canal along Patterson Road near 12th Street

This system was new to me. Ag water or irrigation water is different from drinking water.

If you have visited, you may have seen canals running through town and in rural areas. They look like concrete ditches. Simply put, water gets diverted from the Colorado River near Palisade. It flows through an extensive canal system serving the whole Grand Valley. Water that isn’t used for irrigation is returned to the Colorado River to serve more communities downriver. Water conservation is always encouraged. We have been in a drought for several years.

There are six irrigation districts that serve the Grand Valley. Below is a map from the Mesa County Irrigation District’s website. The City of Grand Junction has a lot of information about water on their website including water supply, treatment, and distribution.

I had a client who lived on the Grand Mesa just outside the town of Mesa and they drove to Palisade to fill their water tank (strapped inside the bed of their pickup truck) to bring water back to their property. The city’s website includes information on filling stations for those in rural areas who do not have water brought to their property.

Property Water Rights

If you buy a property here, you may have water rights or water shares. You can buy a small amount of water or more, depending on your needs. Many homeowner associations manage the irrigation water access for their neighborhood.

The Grand Valley Irrigation Company explains it very well on their website for the landowners they serve.

“The Grand Valley Irrigation Company serves a variety of land-types, including farms, farmettes, subdivisions, residences, and municipal properties. There are 48,000 shares of capitol stock held by over 3,000 shareholders. Each share of water gives the owner the right to approximately 4.6 gallons per minute. This is not a storage right, meaning that the water right does not accumulate and store up when it is not being used. It is a direct flow right, meaning that 4.6 gallons per minute can be drawn at any particular time to be put to beneficial use.

GVIC levies an assessment, or bill, annually on all shareholders. The first share owned by every account is designated as an A share. Each account has only a single A share. Any additional shares owned by a shareholder are categorized as B shares. There is no difference between an A or B share with regard to the water right that is granted. Both types of shares entitle the shareholder to 4.6 gallons per minute. Rather, an A share is assessed, or billed, annually at a higher rate than a B share.

For the 2025 irrigation season, an A share is assessed at $342.64 and a B share is assessed at $16.39.

As an example, if a shareholder owned 5 shares the annual assessment would be calculated as follows: $342.64 + ($16.39 x 4) = $408.20. The annual water assessment is sent out in early January and payment is due in full by April 1.”

Grand Junction Water Conservation

Standing on the Grand Mesa looking down into the Kannah Creek watershed, you can see Land’s End curvy gravel road that’s closed in winter!

If I kept going, I could write another 1,000 words about water conservation in the Grand Valley and Colorado in general. The city and county have conservation initiatives. There are many local, regional, and state nonprofit organizations, districts and institutions who help preserve this precious natural resource.

As a Colorado resident, we try to conserve water. We know that the water from the Colorado River flows southwest to serve Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California residents with water too.

We are thankful our Grand Junction water supply for drinking water comes from Kannah Creek and the Grand Mesa. When you are here, consider a visit to Carson Lake. It’s sort of near the Land’s End Observatory, an outstanding overlook of the entire Grand Valley, best experienced at sunset! I mention it in my post called What It’s Link to Live on the Grand Mesa.

Move to Grand Junction, we’re waiting for you!

Text/Call me at 612-306-9558

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PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Licensed in Colorado & Minnesota

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by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Local or Nearby Attractions, More to Know, Relocating to Grand Junction

What it’s like to live on the Grand Mesa

What it’s like to live on the Grand Mesa in Colorado

I have visited the Grand Mesa multiple times, hopefully you have too. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live on the Grand Mesa? Is there fast internet? How much snow do they really get? What’s there to do up there year-round?

Grand Mesa in September near Mesa Lakes Lodge

Let’s start with some Grand Mesa quick facts

Colorado’s Grand Mesa is the world’s largest flat-top mountain with over 300 lakes in about 500 square miles. Most of “the Mesa” is about 10,000 ft above sea level. Powderhorn Mountain Resort offers over 1,600 acres of year-round diverse terrain for all levels of abilities. There are lush forests of aspen and evergreen trees and beautiful wildflowers. There are numerous resorts offering tons of activities for every season.

Sounds great, right? But what’s it like to live on the Grand Mesa? Here’s some extra information about the area and some FAQs answered by locals to give you a feel for the area to help decide if you’d like to live on the Mesa.

Driving on the Grand Mesa

There’s one main road that crosses the Mesa, Hwy 65, also known as the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway. Yes, it’s scenic! From Grand Junction, head East on I-70. Take the exit for Hwy 65 to head south. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the town of Mesa, CO and 45 minutes to get to Powderhorn. Get your Google maps set up before you leave Grand Junction because you may not get a cell signal on the Mesa.

Continue on Hwy 65 and you’ll reach the town of Cedaredge, then Delta, and you can circle back up Hwy 50 to Grand Junction. Or…

If you want a “local experience” add a stop at the Lands End Observatory to your itinerary. After you see the spectacular overlook of the Grand Valley consider this. If your vehicle is less than 35 feet and you are not towing a trailer, head down Forest Road 100, a scenic gravel road with numerous switchbacks. Also known as Lands End Road. It will come out in Whitewater. Be aware that the narrow road is a two-way road and passing can be tight in spots. I recommend driving down, not up. Be sure you know how to downshift your vehicle so you don’t rely on your brakes the whole way down.

live on the Grand Mesa, drive Lands End Road

I took this picture from the top of the Grand Mesa looking down the Lands End Road into Whitewater. Oh the switchbacks!

How much snow does the Grand Mesa get annually?

Downhill skiing, Nordic (cross-country) skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and other winter sports and recreational activities are popular on the Mesa. Powderhorn Mountain Resort reports this on their website, “The mountain annually receives over 250 inches of light powder snow across a range of groomed runs, aspen & pine glades, and volcanic boulder fields, perfect for skiers and riders of all skill levels.” The Grand Mesa Lodge explains it this way on their website, “With an average annual snowfall of 420 inches (35 feet) the Grand Mesa has epic snow for your adventures. Explore hundreds of miles of trails right from your doorstep or join us for a guided snowmobile ride.”

So, let’s just say the Mesa gets a lot of snow. As a resident, you can rely on Mesa County to plow the primary roads. If you live on the outskirts of Mesa, CO, there may be some roads that require private snow removal contracts beyond clearing snow from your driveway.

Can you get fast home Internet on the Grand Mesa?

Of course! Satellite Internet services like Starlink work great all-around remote Colorado. Some residents take their Internet with them when they road trip away from home.

Can I have a garden?

Yes! The growing season in Colorado can vary from 30 to 150 days, depending on the average last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall. On the Mesa, the frost season ends in late April and doesn’t start again until the end of October. Because of wildlife in the area, be sure to enclose your garden with a fence 6’ or higher.

Driving down from the Mesa near I-70

How does wildlife impact living on the Grand Mesa?

You’ll want to keep your garbage in bear-proof containers. Make sure the paths around your home are well-lit at night. Keep your gutters clean. Typical home ownership responsibilities apply here too. Be cautious driving at night. And even driving during the day as you may come across big horn sheep along the side of the road, especially along the creek right as you get onto the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway from I-70.

Over 400 moose roam the Mesa along with tons of mule deer. Here’s what the VisitGrandJunction.com website has to say about the moose. “When you’re hiking through the woods on top of the world’s largest flat-top mountain, the Grand Mesa National Forest, listen carefully for snapping branches in the distance. Keep your eyes peeled for lumbering beasts moving amongst the trees. The dense pine forests and aspen groves, combined with hundreds of miles of streams and the wetlands from over 300 lakes, make this mountain an ideal home for moose.”

What about Fire Protection Services?

Your homeowner’s insurance rate will depend on how close you are to a fire department so do your research. Here’s a link about our wonderful Mesa County Fire Authority who services the Grand Mesa National Forest area. And here’s the link to the fabulous Plateau Valley Fire Department covering 700 square miles in Mesa County including the areas of Collbran, Georgia Mesa, Grove Creek, Jerry Gulch, Maigatter Knob, Mesa, Molina, Plateau City, Plateau Creek State Wildlife Area, Powderhorn & Round Mountain. If you need a reputable insurance agent that does a great job for rural homeowner’s, give me a call.

What public schools would my child attend?

Mesa County provides a detailed county public school boundary map that allows you to easily review all of the school boundaries. You can enter a specific address to determine which school children will attend. Keep in mind, boundaries are subject to change due to housing growth and population changes. The southern part of the Grand Mesa, Cedaredge for example, is in Delta County so you’ll want to check the Delta County School District website. Plus, there are alternative schools, charter schools and private schools to consider.

Top Day Trips from Grand Junction, Colorado

Snowshoeing on the Mesa near Mesa Lakes Lodge

What is there to do when living on the Grand Mesa?

First and foremost, the people I work with move to the Grand Mesa for the beauty, the views, the solitude and the access to outdoor activities. You will enjoy hiking, biking, downhill skiing at Powderhorn, world-class cross-country ski trails, big game hunting, snowmobiling, fishing (summer and winter) or kayaking the 300 lakes is just a start. You’ll never come up short of ideas to take it all in. With its proximity to Grand Junction, Palisade, and Fruita you are just a short drive into the city with all the conveniences you could ever need. There are not many places in the world where you can enjoy a morning of ice fishing then take part in a round of golf in the afternoon with a short drive into the Grand Valley. Living on the Grand Mesa truly has everything you could ever dream of when considering rural living.

Read how my past clients have described the type of service I offer my clients, all of my clients, every time! Paul Aspelin Reviews and Recommendations.