A Peaceful Place for Our Community

My father-in-law, George Lewis, was one of the first property owners at Hidden Lake in the early 1970s. He was a trucker who loved camping, fishing, and hunting. My husband, Lewis, and I visited often and made it our full-time home in 2019, just before the pandemic struck. It felt like a gift to be in such a peaceful place during that time.

The El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) used to collect fees and maintain the lake well. It was stocked with trout, had a rope swing for the kids, and a floating dock for swimming and fishing. We still walk the trail and take our kayak down year-round. It was a special place.

Over time, however, it began to be neglected and deteriorated. During the pandemic, we gathered volunteers on Saturdays to clean up the lake, including picking up trash, clearing weeds, and opening the trail. It was a simple way to get outside and meet neighbors. We didn't know much about the lake's history, just that it had been neglected for years.

Then EID announced plans to dispose of the property, since it was no longer part of their water system, and they had stopped collecting maintenance fees. After a neighborhood meeting, a few of us began discussing how to prevent Hidden Lake from becoming private property.

Jim Emick, who lived nearby, took the lead. When EID refused to share a list of property owners, Jim created one himself—nearly 200 names—using his hunting app. We sent out a mailing and were overwhelmed by the responses of residents sharing what the lake meant to their families.

The first community meeting was well-attended. Anne Hansen hosted, and Cathie Cowie offered her nonprofit experience. Thanks to them and many others, a board was formed to create the Hidden Lake nonprofit.

Losing Jim was hard, but it's finally happening, and I think he'd be proud. We shared a vision of a place where neighbors connect and enjoy the simple things, such as frogs at night, geese on the water, and clouds reflecting on the lake.

There is still more work to be done to keep this community property accessible for recreation and enjoyment for everyone. Thank you to everyone who has helped us get to this point.