Carbondale forumThe Sopris Sun and KDNK Community Access Radio are hosting a forum for the Carbondale trustee and mayoral candidates on March 25 at Town Hall from 6 to 7:30pm. Questions for the candidates can be submitted in advance at www.tinyurl.com/CarbondaleCandidates Teller Springs conservedAspen Valley Land Trust announced that 31 acres at Teller Springs, a […]
Forest Service
Posted inNews
Scuttlebutt
Spring GulchAn afternoon of rain and fog at Spring Gulch on Feb. 12 diminished the thin base of snow, prompting a cautionary closure. If the next storm brings sufficient snowpack, the course will reopen. “In the meantime: go to the car wash, sleep with a spoon under your pillow and make a few sacrifices to […]
Posted inEnvironment
New round of decisions on track for proposed Uinta Basin Railway
Late last year, Uinta Basin Railway (UBR) backers, Utah’s Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, filed a 35-page motion with the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB), asking the Board to reaffirm its original decision to approve the railway without further environmental review. But the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is not on board with the idea. The […]
Posted inEnvironment
Former Forest supervisor warns of ‘deliberate dismantling of the public lands system’
Last year, Scott Fitzwilliams retired from his position as supervisor of the White River National Forest. He had been in the role for 15 years, nearly half of his 35-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. His previous locations with the agency included northern Wyoming, Alaska and parts of the Pacific Northwest. The newly inaugurated […]
Posted inNews
Updates on public lands, new land purchases, federal legislation
National perspectives and decision-making on public land continue to create pressure for state and local governments and organizations. Attempts this year to include provisions in federal legislation for selling public lands to private developers, ostensibly for housing and energy development, received bipartisan opposition from the public and from Colorado elected politicians, including District 3 representative […]
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
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
New NEPA regulations reduce public voice in energy development
In response to President Donald Trump’s Unleashing American Energy executive order, multiple governmental agencies have introduced new rules for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Eight federal agencies have introduced policies like faster deadlines, page limits and removal of public input in order to expedite domestic energy production. The White House lauds these new […]
Posted inEnvironment
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers celebrates 30 years of stewardship
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and after all of this time is just as dedicated to maintaining a culture of stewardship for the benefit of recreational lands in both the Crystal and Roaring Fork valleys. Founded in 1995 by a group of locals — David Hamilton, Kevin O’Brien and Michael […]