The Garfield County Commissioners began their public meeting on Monday, Aug. 15, by issuing a letter to the acting director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Heather Dugan, requesting answers to a list of questions regarding the process by which Sweetwater Lake became Colorado’s 43rd state park. Sweetwater Lake is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, […]
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Carbondale is water secure, but the West is not
On Tuesday, July 19, the town of Carbondale trustees held a work session on water. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk wanted to know whether the town has enough water to service growth, particularly in light of the desire to add housing. He also asked if the town should be doing more to reduce water demand and whether […]
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Feds demand unprecedented cuts to Colorado River water use
UPDATE Sopris Sun correspondent Olivia Emmer interviewed KUNC’s Water and Environment Reporter covering the Colorado River Basin, Alex Hager, about the Bureau of Reclamation’s recent demand to users of Colorado River water. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Would you briefly summarize the recent edict from the federal government to users of […]
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CVEPA Views: The Critically Thirsty West
At this time, 39 years ago, “federal officials scrambled to avoid one of the most dramatic dam failures in history.” Glen Canyon Dam was bursting at the seams with water and rock blasting out around its foundation while crews raced to install a rampart of plywood sheets across the top of the dam. This near […]
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Village of Peace, dances for water
For 17 years, Rochelle Norwood has nurtured a parallel life in Ghana. She first discovered the Africana Dance Ensemble while studying abroad. Captivated by the energy of traditional African drumming and dance, she regularly introduced other foreign students at the University of Ghana to the troupe. Together they danced, drummed and made other art, beading […]
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Dismal water flows inspire expansive collaboration
The Colorado River District (CRD) held its annual “Middle Colorado State of the River” meeting at the Morgridge Commons in Glenwood Springs the evening of May 3. Presenters predicted another hot summer with low water levels; not dissimilar to 2021. From March through June, several meetings are taking place throughout Western Colorado, from Ouray County […]
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Relying on a wild river: Reflections from the Crystal watershed
Editor’s note: Water supply, climate change and the Colorado River seem to be in the news constantly. The West’s major reservoirs have reached record lows and scientists have released discouraging forecasts for future supplies. This article seeks to provide local context for these headlines by reviewing the state of the Crystal River watershed, the rules […]
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Helping out the trout at Canyon Creek
When the culvert was built in the ‘70s, planners knew it would be a problem for fish. The box culvert is two channels, each 10 feet wide and 300 feet long. It runs beneath Interstate 70 west of Glenwood Springs, connecting the cascading Canyon Creek with its final yards before it joins the Colorado River. […]
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Autumn reflections on restoring balance
As the sun crossed the equator this equinox, day and night were approximately of equal length. The water flow in the river is low and slow. Patterns of flowing current around rocks are smaller, quieter and a yellow leaf is swirling in an eddy. Does balance between light and dark in our “watershed democracy” call […]