This summer, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has ramped up testing and treatment of Colorado waters to prevent the further spread of zebra mussels in rivers and lakes. Between April and mid-August, the agency collected some 318 water samples from different spots along the Colorado River, plus 58 samples from the Eagle River and 26 […]
Environment
Posted inEnvironment
Drought conditions persist, scorching local flora
After a winter in the bottom decile of historically documented precipitation, Western Colorado did not need more dry weather. Only in the past few weeks did monsoon patterns return to more typical levels. Moving into September, it is unlikely that precipitation or low pressure weather systems will significantly mitigate drought levels ahead of winter. As […]
Posted inEnvironment
Counting the bees: A glimpse into a Colorado bee survey
Aug. 14 was a beautiful sunny day near Independence Pass, where Jake Gottschalk spent his day on the mountainsides off of Highway 82 counting local bees. No, he’s not a census taker. Gottschalk is a western invertebrate and rare plant biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and his work that day included collecting data […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Freedom still lives
After a seven-year hiatus, the Regional Rainbow Gathering returned to Colorado, nestled in the Uncompahgre Forest looking up at formidable Lone Cone Mountain. Seventy-four or so misfits from across the U.S. camped in scattered tents, vehicles, a Food-Not-Bombs bus, with no fire, good spirits and plenty of weed. My brief stay with the Rainbow family […]
Posted inNews
Helping pollinators and reducing water use at Thompson House Park
Editor’s note: Sue Gray is a member of Bee Friendly Carbondale. The bees are busy in the new 1,600-square-feet demonstration pollinator garden at the Thompson House Museum History Park in Carbondale. Along with a plethora of honeybees, several species of wild bees, wasps, moths, beetles, butterflies and hummingbirds are visiting their favorite pollen-producing plants, which […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Medicaid changes and a public land use ally from Utah
As the Lee Fire on Monday was closing in on 137,000 acres and the dubious achievement of becoming the state’s 4th largest wildfire in history, Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) had a public conversation promoting natural gas drilling and timber sales with Jacey Albaugh, legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) on the U.S. Senate […]
Posted inNonprofits
Watch Duty on duty since 2021
During the early chaos of the Lee Fire this month, when social media was also burning up, locals wanted information. Where’s the smoke coming from? How far away is the fire? Do I have to evacuate? Where do I take my livestock? As I was scrambling to get a handle on what was happening, a […]
Posted inEnvironment
Defiende Nuestra Tierra welcomes Alejandro Jaquez-Caro
This interview originated from Sol del Valle and has been translated for English readers. Alejandro (Jando) Jaquez-Caro, — raised in the Colorado River and Roaring Fork valleys — is Wilderness Workshop’s new Latino Community Liaison for the Defiende Nuestra Tierra advocacy program. He brings fresh ideas to strengthen the community’s connection with public lands. A […]
Posted inEnvironment
New studies indicate how Colorado ecosystems respond to wildfire
As of late, sunsets have been spectacularly colorful and horizon lines remain hazy. The air carries a distinct scent many associate with camping — some with fear — and air quality ratings oscillate between moderate to hazardous. Understandably, wildfire is at the top of many folks’ minds. And it’s no surprise that the Roaring Fork […]
Posted inEnvironment
Wilderness Workshop to host conversation with former BLM leaders
On Thursday, Aug. 21, outdoor enthusiasts will gather at the Third Street Center for a conversation about United States public lands, changing government policies and citizen conservation responses. From 5:30pm to 7:00pm, Carbondale-based nonprofit Wilderness Workshop will facilitate the free conversation with Tracy Stone-Manning, current president of The Wilderness Society and former director of the […]