January 2025 Update

THANKS TO THE SHORES OWNERS’ GENEROSITY, THE RAINBOW LAKE CONSERVATION COMPANY HAS MET OUR $500,000 GOAL!!

I am incredibly pleased to announce that the Rainbow Lake Conservation Company has met and exceeded its goal of $500,000, which is the minimum amount necessary to be eligible for a match to a Department of Interior grant of $1.5 million! Although The Shores at Rainbow Lake only occupies about 21% of the Lake shoreline, owners from that community contributed over 90% of the funds over the past two years.

Many, many thanks to a couple of incredibly resolute “whales,” Brad Robertson and Anonymous Donor. Brad was instrumental, not only in his own generosity, but also in helping “cheerlead” this program through some dark periods where the Goal seemed out of reach. Anonymous Donor came forward in the last few months to provide a $50,000 fund to be “matched” by so many of you that we were able to raise the final dollars!

We are cautiously optimistic that a meeting with the Department of Interior, Pinetop Lakeside Town officials, and the Conservation Company will result in an award. That meeting will occur soon, but we have no guarantees that the grant will be given to us, or, with a new Administration, that the grant will even be available.

The Conservation Company and the Irrigation Company have accepted these risks and have reached out to local contractors who would not be saddled with government procurement costs and “fairness” requirements that make government grants as much as three to five times more expensive than local labor and supplies. At present, we have three separate bidders reviewing our engineering plans and are eager to provide us with their bids by January 15, 2025.

Weather, the Federal Government, and contractor availability will dictate when this project can commence. It is possible that it can be completed before the irrigation season in April, but we may have to wait until next fall. In any event, we are ahead of our own fundraising schedule and hopeful that we may have enough excess to complete the piping and provide for a new headgate at the dam to better control the outflow for the benefit of the lake.

I cannot tell you how pleased we are to be at a turning point for guaranteeing a beneficial habitat for our fish and game, and nesting areas for eagles, ospreys, herons, ducks, and geese. It is OUR habitat as well. These financial sacrifices we have made individually to support Rainbow Lake will pay dividends in maintaining high home values for our owners as well as an unmatched forest ambiance!

Thanks for your support!

Dave Derickson, Vice President
Rainbow Lake Conservation Company