Shoshone water
A Western Slope coalition last week gained a major step toward securing local water rights tethered to the Shoshone Hydroelectric Facility just east of Glenwood Springs on the Colorado River. The Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Coalition & Campaign announced on May 22 they secured $40 million in funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In a $99 million deal, the coalition is striving to purchase the water rights from the owner of the Shoshone Power Plant, Xcel Energy, a move they say would preserve the section of river’s flow into the future. With the $40 million, which was reappointed after it was originally awarded by the Biden administration then frozen by the Trump administration, the coalition has raised $97 million of the $99 million price tag.
River Report
Roaring Fork Conservancy released its first River Report of the year on May 21, reporting “rivers across the Roaring Fork Watershed are flowing well below average for this time of year, at 27-40% of normal.” The “historically poor” runoff is attributed to record-breaking low snowpack and unseasonably warm spring temperatures. Despite recent rainfall, the watershed is experiencing exceptional drought.
Speech and debate
Two students from Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Competition. Juno Zislis and Maddie Lucks will be among 7,000 highschoolers representing 1,500 schools at the tournament from June 14-19 in Richmond, Virginia. The achievement marks the second and third time a student from the Valley has qualified for the national competition, according to RFHS Speech and Debate Team Coach Denise Wright. Lucks previously qualified in 2025.
RFSD accolades
Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) survey results reflect satisfaction among both student families and teachers. The annual Panorama Family Survey was administered to parents and guardians across the district and yielded 81% to 92% positive responses across all survey categories, including student learning, school culture and support from educators. Areas for improvement identified family engagement and communication and access to mental health services as priorities. Meanwhile, RFSD educators reported favorably in a separate survey administered by the Colorado Department of Education every two years, with an overall score of 86% compared with the statewide average of 81%.
River Edge rezoning
Garfield County approved a planned unit development (PUD) revocation application for the land encompassing the unrealized River Edge Colorado project, redesignating the zoning to residential/suburban. The roughly 159-acre, two-parcel property is located between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs near Cattle Creek. The application was submitted by Harvest Roaring Fork, LLC. Back in 2001, the Sanders Ranch PUD was approved for 62 single- and multi-family dwellings, but that development was revoked in 2007. The River Edge PUD included 366 units. According to Garfield County Planner John Leybourne, the residential/suburban zoning is consistent with future land use mapping densities and complies with the County’s comprehensive plan.
Water leasing
Garfield County is helping the West Divide Water Conservancy District meet its agricultural and domestic water needs by leasing the district 200 acre-feet of water from Ruedi Reservoir, half of the total leasable water the county holds rights to in Ruedi. District President Samuel Potter said the district might try and lease an additional 185 acre-feet from the county if available. “This is dependent on use with our augmentation plans,” Potter reportedly told Garfield County Commissioners. “We, potentially, would not use that whole 185 [acre-feet]… If it is available and you have no other use for it, or other people who are interested in it, West Divide would like to be in line for that water.”
CDOT Plan
The Colorado Department of Transportation announced last week it has approved a 10-year plan to fix roads, advance transportation safety and increase transportation options. “This 10-year Plan is part of our firm commitment to a safer, more connected future for every Coloradan,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in a press release. The plan will focus on repairing and replacing aging bridges and fixing roadway across the state’s regions. It will implement “critical safety projects” to ensure travelers’ secure arrival at their destinations as well as increase multimodal connectivity and expand alternatives to single-occupancy transportation.
Firearms safety
The State of Colorado is seeking feedback to inform final guidance on SB25-003, requiring firearm safety training and an eligibility card issued by a sheriff to purchase and/or transfer specified semiautomatic firearms. The bill also prohibits the purchase and sale of all rapid-fire conversion devices, like bump stocks and binary triggers. Learn more and chime in at www.bit.ly/SB25-003
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Louis Meyer, Alex Salvidrez, Amanda Seubert and Wayne Wander (May 28); Clark Cretti (May 29); Rianna Briggs (May 30); Tobin Haefle, Chip Munday, Shea Nieslanik, Debbie Romanus and Carolyn Sackariason (June 1); Li McBrayer, Easton O’Flannery and Tracy Trulove (June 2); Emily Elizabeth, Cheryl Frymire, Trary Maddalone LaMee and Anna Ramirez (June 3).
After two summers without a municipal pool, Carbondale is proud to welcome the community to swim, lounge and play at its new all-electric, net-zero aquatics center.
The grand opening on May 23 followed years of planning, fundraising and construction. The John M. Fleet Pool of yonder opened in 1979 and was determined to be aging beyond repair about a decade ago. In 2020, the Town completed a formal feasibility study envisioning a new facility with multiple pools, a hot tub, recreation features including a climbing wall, improved accessibility and advanced sustainability.
COVID-era inflation presented a funding hurdle admirably overcome by the Let’s Make a Splash! Capital Campaign which raised $3.1 million in grants and private donations. This augmented a $8 million bond issue approved by 72% of Carbondale voters in 2022.
Land+Shelter, Connect One Design and AD Miller Services made the vision a reality.
Find hours, pricing and other pool-related information at www.carbondalerec.com/aquatics or call the front desk at 970-963-2065.