On Dec. 8, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft environmental assessment for the Thompson Divide Withdrawal. If approved, this would withdraw nearly 225,000 acres of public land from future mining and oil and gas development for a period of 20 years.The draft assessment is […]
Will Buzzerd
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Midland underground construction wrapped up for 2023
This week, Basalt Town Council discussed potential affordable housing developments over the next several years, provided a final update on Midland’s construction for the year and signed agreements for updates coming to the town’s trails and parks.Prior to their regular meeting, Town Council convened for a work session with Basalt Affordable Community Housing (BACH) to […]
Posted inEnvironment
Wild Rose hosts a polar visitor for Antarctica Day
On Wednesday, Nov. 29, Wild Rose Education, a Carbondale-based nonprofit, virtually hosted engineer Sarah Wilson live from the South Pole to share her experiences with educators in the Roaring Fork Valley, just two days in advance of Antarctica Day, celebrated annually on Dec. 1. The discussion was oriented towards educators and mentors in order to […]
Posted inNews
Western Slope shows support for conservation in BLM plan
In August of this year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to be appended to both the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction resource management plans, affecting usage policy for approximately 2 million acres of land for the next two decades. After a two-month period of public […]
Posted inNews
Basalt Report: Councilor Drummond resigns, opening temporary seat
This week, Basalt’s town council discussed an upcoming two-day closure on Midland Avenue as well as this year’s budget. This meeting also marked the last for councilor Glenn Drummond, who officially resigned on Nov. 30. Elected to a four-year term in April 2020, Drummond initially had planned to serve until the term ended in April […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Contracts signed for 2024 Midland construction
This week, the Basalt town council convened to discuss fun, festive plans for this year’s holiday season as well as a successful value engineering effort for Midland’s reconstruction in 2024. During the opening period for public comment, two citizens came to the stand to offer their opinions on the potential Black Mountain development plan at […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Basalt Report: Skepticism over Emma Road Development
This week’s Town Council meeting, Oct. 24, saw councilors Angela Anderson and Elyse Hottel absent as the flu makes its way through the Valley. The meeting began with a series of presentations, the first led by the police department announcing its accreditation. For the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, accreditation includes a professional code […]
Posted inEnvironment
Glenwood receives $600k federal forestry grant
On Sept. 14, the City of Glenwood Springs was awarded a $600,000 grant for urban and community forestry, expanding the city’s community forestry program sixfold over the course of the next five years to make for a greener, more environmentally equitable Glenwood. The grant was received as part of a sweeping action by the U.S. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Focusing on health and housing
Prior to their regular meeting on Oct. 11, Basalt Town Council held a work session with the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition (WMRHC). Program Director April Long and Treasurer David Myler represented WMRHC, a multi-jurisdictional regional housing authority. They presented an update on its progress and plans for affordable workforce housing within the Roaring Fork […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
GarCo Report: Disagreement builds over potential development
At this week’s Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, a series of funding actions in the morning was followed by a contentious public hearing regarding a potential development at Flying M Ranch. The meeting opened with a reading of Governor Polis’ proclamation that 4-H week has begun nationwide. First on a tall list of […]