Journal 28: Pipes, Progress, and Partnership: How CSWD Enriched Pinehaven

On a summer day in the early 1970s, Steve Pierotti stood knee-deep in mud with a pickaxe in hand and a vision in his head. He wasn’t a city engineer, just a determined man trying to bring running water to a cluster of rustic cabins under the pines. That’s how Pinehaven’s journey toward modern water service began, with a hidden spring on Raspberry Mountain and the vision to build a thriving cabin community called Pinehaven. But it was Cucharas Sanitation and Water District that fulfilled the dream. 

The spring flowed through the pipes, but as the community grew, so did its need for reliable infrastructure. This lead to a transformative partnership with CSWD. Formed in 1974, CSWD brought modern water and sewer systems to the Cuchara Valley, thanks in part to the leadership of Pinehaven’s own Bob Pierotti and Leon Skaggs.(1) By 2008, Pinehaven was fully integrated into the district’s network through a major engineering effort that replaced outdated systems with underground pipelines, pressure regulators, and a new pumping station. Today, Pinehaven residents enjoy clean mountain water and safe sanitation year-round, benefits made possible by decades of vision, investment, and community leadership that turned a backwoods spring into a legacy of sustainable living.

CSWD Office at 16925 CO-12, La Veta, CO 81055

A Valley Transformed: CSWD’s Regional Impact

In the early days, most of Cuchara’s cabins had outhouses with million-dollar views, not exactly what you'd expect in a resort town, but they got the job done. It’s easy to forget that before CSWD came into the picture, life in the Cuchara Valley was a rugged, DIY experience when it came to water and sanitation. Cabin owners depended on hand-dug wells, backyard outhouses, and aging septic systems that were just good enough to get by (2)   But as the valley grew, it became clear that this patchwork approach couldn’t keep up and it certainly wasn’t sustainable for the future or the pristine environment we all experience and cherish today.

The turning point came in January 1974, when CSWD was officially formed, ushering in a new era of safe drinking water and dependable sewage service for the upper Cucharas River Valley.(3)   Leading the charge was Pinehaven’s own Bob Pierotti, who served as one of the five founding board members and helped lay the foundation for the district’s future.(4)   Years later, another Pinehaven resident, Leon Skaggs, continued that legacy of leadership by serving as CSWD board chair, reinforcing Pinehaven’s deep-rooted role in shaping the valley’s progress.(5)  

Progress didn’t happen overnight, it came in waves. In the late 1970s, the first breakthrough arrived with the construction of water treatment plants near Cucharas Pass and Dodgeton Creek, finally delivering cleaner, safer water to local homes and cabins.(6)  The momentum continued into the early 1980s when the rise of the Panadero Ski Resort sparked further innovation, including a small water intake and a basic wastewater facility built to serve the growing ski village. Each step laid the groundwork for the modern systems the valley relies on today.

Cuchara Pass Water Treatment Plant

Even as progress unfolded, many cabins, including those in Pinehaven, relied on septic systems well into the 1990s. That changed in a big way on January 16, 1995, when CSWD opened a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant just north of the Village of Cuchara.(7)    For the first time, residents could connect to a centralized sewer system and say goodbye to aging tanks and backyard leach fields. But CSWD didn’t stop there. Determined to build a unified, modern network, the district spent the next decade consolidating scattered private water systems and upgrading key infrastructure.(8)   

For instance, some developments (like the old Panadero/Baker Creek system and a small Dodgeton Creek system inherited from prior owners) were gradually integrated or retired as the district expanded its main network. One example: the small Panadero ski-area water plant, having aged and suffered from poor maintenance, was taken offline in 2006 . Another small water plant on Dodgeton Creek, which CSWD had acquired, was kept running until 2020 before it too was decommissioned due to high costs and obsolescence . By retiring these and focusing on the main upgraded plant, CSWD streamlined its service and reduced operational risks.

In 2000–2001, the original 1978 water plant was replaced with a cutting-edge filtration facility. By 2008, CSWD’s expansion into Pinehaven marked a major milestone, bringing the community fully into the fold and helping complete the transformation of the valley’s utility landscape. Currently, the only operational treatment plants in use are the Cuchara Pass Water Treatment Plant and the Upper Valley Cucharas Sanitation & Water District Wastewater Treatment Plant north of Yellow Pine Ranch.

Today, CSWD provides essential services to roughly 650 homes and a dozen businesses, stretching from the heart of Cuchara to surrounding neighborhoods and outlying communities like Pinehaven.(9)   With an eye on long-term sustainability, the district continues to invest in upgrades, from additional water storage tanks to future treatment facilities, ensuring the system remains strong, safe, and reliable. Thanks to these ongoing improvements, Pinehaven residents enjoy year-round access to clean drinking water and dependable sanitation that meets the highest state and federal standards.

Upper Cuchara Waste Treatment Plant

A Spring and a Shovel: Pinehaven’s First Water Source

Pinehaven’s first water source was a modest mountain spring tucked into the hillside of Raspberry Mountain just west of the community. With characteristic grit and vision, Steve Pierotti set out to turn that spring into a lifeline. Armed with little more than determination and a pickaxe, Steve and a small team carved out a hand-dug trench that stretched all the way down Road 401, bringing fresh water to cabins in the subdivision. Bob Pierotti, son of Steve, recalled with a chuckle. “It wasn’t pretty, but it worked.”(10) 

But as more families discovered the beauty of Pinehaven and the community began to grow, the small spring struggled to meet increasing demand. Recognizing the need for a more sustainable source, Steve initiated discussions with the Cuchara Sanitation and Water District to connect Pinehaven to a more reliable system, a move that would shape the future of water access in the community.(11)  

From Isolation to Integration: Pinehaven Joins CSWD

Pinehaven has always been a unique part of the Cuchara Valley, but when it came to water and sanitation, it operated a bit like an island. For years our community managed its own systems, separate from the broader services provided by CSWD. That changed in a big way in 2007, when it became clear that Pinehaven would benefit from joining the modern infrastructure network that CSWD had built for the region. Between 2007 and 2008, the district designed and installed a completely new water and sewer system for Pinehaven, involving…

• Replacing aging components with modern underground pipelines. 
• Crews laying 1,500 feet of sewer mains over steep and rocky terrain.
• Upgrading roadbeds and connecting dozens of cabins. 
• Adding a new pumping station and grinder pumps to push wastewater uphill from some lower-lying homes to the main sewer line.
• Installing pressure-reducing valves for Pinehaven residents at lower elevations to protect their homes from excessive water pressure. 

By late 2008, the work was finished and Pinehaven had a brand-new water distribution system and a sewer network tied into CSWD’s treatment plant.(12)  This turning point brought peace of mind to residents and helped ensure safe, year-round service for decades to come.(13). Today, thanks to CSWD, Pinehaven now enjoys year-round water reliability, pressure regulation for steep terrain, access to professional maintenance, and the retirement of outdated septic systems. These benefits have significanlty elevateed both the quality of life and environmental stewardship in Pinehaven.

The most detailed map showing Pinehaven's water grid

Pinehaven's Contribution to CSWD Leadership

The relationship between Pinehaven and CSWD is also notable for the personal investment of community leaders. Pinehaven residents have long been active in the district’s governance and operations. Aside from Leon Skaggs’ involvement, Pinehaven’s own Bob Pierotti was a driving force behind the subdivision’s integration. Bob had historical ties to Pinehaven (his family helped develop it decades earlier) and he worked tirelessly to see Pinehaven thrive within CSWD’s system. In fact, one could say Pinehaven’s successful transition onto CSWD utilities is part of Bob Pierotti and Leon Skaggs enduring legacy.

Pinehaven Water & Sanitation Timeline

Tapping Into the Future

Today, every drop of clean water and every flush of a cabin toilet carries a legacy, from a hand-dug trench on Raspberry Mountain to a district-wide system built through vision, sweat, and local leadership. Pinehaven isn’t just better connected, it’s part of a living story of community resilience.(14)

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Footnotes

Parenthetical numbers in the text (e.g., 5) correspond to the sequentially numbered citations listed below.

1. Cucharas Sanitation and Water District, Articles of Incorporation (Huerfano County, CO: District Court, December 3, 1974), https://www.cuchara.org/files/6d2b6ff97/Articles+of+Incorporation.pdf. 

2. Cuchara Foundation, About Us, https://www.cuchara.org/about-us#:~:text=Throughout%20the%2020th%20Century%2C%20Cuchara,were%20installed%20at%20each%20home

3. Cuchara Foundation, About Us, https://www.cuchara.org/about-us. 

4. World Journal, "This Week in History for December 29, 2011," December 29, 2011, https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/this-week-in-history-for-december-29-2011/#:~:text=predeceased%20by%20his%20wife%2C%20an,rentals%20at%20%249%20a%20day. 

5. Cucharas District Manholes Finish Rehab," World Journal, September 22, 2022, https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/cucharas-district-manholes-finish-rehab/#:~:text=to%20pump%20sewage%20uphill%20to,letters%20with%20the%20September%20billing

6. Cuchara Foundation, About Us, accessed July 26, 2025, https://www.cuchara.org/about-us. 

7. Cuchara Foundation, About Us, https://www.cuchara.org/about-us#:~:text=Up%20until%20the%20building%20of,of%20the%20Village%20of%20Cuchara. 

8 Cuchara Foundation, Projects, accessed July 26, 2025, https://www.cuchara.org/projects#:~:text=facilities,that%20facility%20be%20terminated%20and.

9. Cuchara Foundation, Projects, accessed July 26, 2025, https://www.cuchara.org/projects#:~:text=CSWD%20serves%20approximately%20650%20residential,The%20plant%20was%20old%2C%20maintenance.

10. Robert (Bob) Pierotti (son of Steve Pierotti, community leader, namesake of the Pierotti Pavilion, and current Pinehaven resident), personal interview with the author in Cuchara, Colorado, on June 24, 2025

11. Robert (Bob) Pierotti (son of Steve Pierotti, community leader, namesake of the Pierotti Pavilion, and current Pinehaven resident), phone conversation on June 7, 2025, June 12, 2025, and personal interview with the author in Cuchara, Colorado, on June 24, 2025.

12. Cuchara Foundation, Projects, accessed July 26, 2025, https://www.cuchara.org/projects#:~:text=In%202007%2C%20CS%26WD%20chose%20to,to%20be%20done%20in%202009 

13. Cuchara Foundation, Projects, accessed July 26, 2025, https://www.cuchara.org/projects#:~:text=Pinehaven%20Sewer%20and%20Water%20Project,2008

14. Author’s note: In preparing this article, the author used AI-assisted tools for research support, proofreading, fact-checking, and stylistic refinement. The narrative, analysis, and historical interpretations are the author’s own, and responsibility for accuracy rests solely with the author. The blog’s research methodology statement is available at:

https://cabininthepinescuchara.blogspot.com/2019/03/methodology-sources-and-use-of-research.html