Mesa County has projected that the area will grow from its current population of 1,125 people in approximately 450 households to as many as 16,000 residents in 7,500 households within the next 20 to 30 years. The County has had several public meetings with residents to determine what types of services are wanted and needed. The result of those meetings and studies is the Whitewater Rural Community Plan, which can be found on Mesa County's website at www.mesacounty.us/planning/long_range.aspx.

The biggest hurdle that will be overcome within the next year and a half is the development of a sewer system. The county is moving forward with plans to hire a design firm to do a feasibility study to determine the type of system will work best in the area and do the design of the system itself.

"The main reason we started this is because we wanted to get ahead of development," says Connie Hahn, the assistant to the Director of Public Works for Mesa County. Although groundbreaking may not happen until the end of the year, Director of Public Works Pete Baier hopes the entire system will be up and running within the next 18 months.

Clifton Water District, which services much of the Whitewater area, is planning a new 1,000,000-gallon water tank to serve the growing number of customers. The project is already designed and engineered, and the district will put the project out for bid within the next month. District Manager Dale Tooker hopes to have it completed before the end of year.

Currently, there aren't any large subdivisions with homes and/or lots for sale in the Whitewater area. Desert Vista, a 360-acre development of 55 home sites, was sold out in 2003. Jim Dyer with 4 Seasons Country Real Estate, who was the developer with Desert Vista, hopes to bring another development to the area when the sewer system is in place. "There are lot of pluses out there," Dyer says. "It will make a nice area for people someday if we can hang in there and do it right."

Desert Ranches is a small subdivision of 12 two-acre home sites off Reeder Mesa Road. One lot has sold already, but 11 others are available. The area boasts dramatic views of the Grand Mesa, underground utilities and pressurized irrigation. Although higher-end manufactured homes are allowed in the subdivision, they must be at least 1,450 square feet.

Gunnison Ranch is another subdivision currently in the planning stages. If all goes according to plan, the 80-acre neighborhood will feature 44 one-acre home sites, plenty of open space, Gunnison River access, incredible views of the Uncompahgre, the Grand Mesa and the Gunnison River and its own resident antelope herd. Although the development will tap into Clifton water, the proposed Whitewater sewer system will not reach the area for years, and houses will be on septic systems. Freestyle Design and Building, which is developing the area, plans to use a unique septic system that will protect the environment and allow homeowners to recapture water for irrigation purposes.

There are no schools in the Whitewater community; students are bused to Mesa View Elementary, Orchard Mesa Middle School and Grand Junction High School. The school district is actively trying to find land on which to build schools, although it hasn't been determined what type of school will best serve the area.

One surprising business currently thriving in spite of its location in the Whitewater area is Reeder Mesa Winery. Although the land immediately surrounding Highway 50 is often full of alkaline and not productive, Doug Vogel is able to coax Riesling grapes to grow on his land eight miles up Reeder Mesa Road. The result is his award-winning wine. In addition to Riesling, Vogel also makes Shiraz, Merlot, and a robust blend he calls Lands End Red, which won a gold medal at the Colorado Mountain Wine Fest.

Other long-time Whitewater businesses aren't faring as well. The Hanging W Ranch, which was a restaurant up Kannah Creek Road, has closed and has no plans to reopen for the coming summer season. The Lazy S Arrow Motel, which has provided a visual reminder that you're passing through Whitewater since 1970, had a "terrible year" in 2006, according to owner Toni Sherwood.

It's difficult to imagine what Whitewater may look like in 20 or 30 years if the county's growth projections prove accurate, but there is no doubt that it will look different. Hopefully, it will retain its sense of wide-open freedom while capturing a little more convenience for its residents.