Last week, our Open Spaces natural resources team finished installing two solar-powered pumps at Bijou Basin Open Space, our largest property (2,800+ acres) located in the Eastern plains of Arapahoe County. The solar installation project rejuvenated two windmills—Dempsters from the 1960s—modernizing their functionality to better support ranch operations. 

The new solar-powered pumps will provide a more reliable water source for livestock, in support of our grazing program. The new system will be easier to maintain and far more efficient than the previous system. The windmill structures will be preserved for their historic value and to preserve the property’s rural character. 

Bijou Basin Open Space is managed for conservation and cattle grazing, with limited public access. The County’s grazing program plays an important role in supporting local ranchers and the agricultural economy; it also has environmental benefits, from improved soil health and nutrient cycling to noxious weed control.  

For more information, contact the Open Spaces department at 720-874-6540.

Pictured below left: a well contractor removing the windmill head from one of the wells at Bijou Basin Open Space, in preparation for solar pump installation. At right: the completed project.