Huge dead zone expected in Gulf of Mexico this year

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

About 153,000 metric tons of pollutants washed down the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers in May

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Mapping the size of the Gulf Dead zone helps assess the impacts to marine ecosystems and potential costs to commercial and recreational fisheries.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Big runoff in the Mississippi River could lead to a record or near-record dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, according to a forecast from scientists preparing to measure the oxygen-starved waters where fish and other organisms struggle to survive.

The dead zone in Chesapeake Bay is expected to be smaller than average, based on several NOAA-supported forecast models developed by researchers at the University of Michigan, Louisiana State University, and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, Marine biology, ocean conservation, water | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

More wildfires burning in Colorado

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Evacuations in effect forLime Gulch Fire

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The West Fork Fire complex has grown to more than 600 acres in the rugged San Juan backcountry of southwest Colorado. Photo courtesy InciWeb.org.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — With several new wildfires burning in Colorado and red flag warnings in effect for much of the state, Summit County officials have put a temporary hold on slash burning permits.

“We all have seen the tragic consequences of wildfires yet again in our state, and we want to do everything we can to prevent an out-of-control blaze here in Summit County,” said Lake Dillon Fire Chief Dave Parmley. “This is a worthwhile precaution, especially as we have three teams of firefighters out of the county on the Black Forest fire, as well as two other wildfire leaders assigned to other blazes.”

The Black Forest Fire may be in a mop-up phase, but the Lime Gulch Fire near Conifer and Evergreen is still growing. The Jefferson County fire was initially called the Chair Rock Fire but officials changed the name about about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

The Jefferson County Emergency Blog has been activated to support the Chair Rock Fire, burning in the area of Foxton Road and River Road near Conifer, Colorado.

A level three evacuation (leave now) has been issued for the areas within a three-mile radius of the Foxton Road and River Road intersection. According to the JeffCo emergency blog, 410 phones were called within this evacuation area.  Deputies are in the area going door to door to assist with the evacuations. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires, pine beetles and wildfires, public lands, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Dillon Reservoir — what a difference four weeks makes

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Jenney Coberly

Water levels in Dillon Reservoir rise dramatically over the past month

Photos by Jenney Coberly

FRISCO — The water level in Dillon Reservoir has been climbing rapidly since late April at the average rate of about six inches per day. Denver Water now expects the reservoir to come very close to filling. More details in this Summit Voice story. Jenney Coberly documented the surging water level from the saddle of her bicycle, compiling this set of “before and and after” images in late May and mid-June.

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Frisco Bay, June 17

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Frisco Bay, May 22

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Frisco Bay Marina, June 17

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Frisco Bay Marina, May 22

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Buoy along Dillon Dam Rd, June 17

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Buoy along Dillon Dam Rd, May 22

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End of reservoir in Dillon, June 17

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End of reservoir in Dillon, May 22

Filed under: Dillon Reservoir, photography, water | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Growing coalition demands faster shift to renewable energy

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Water, energy at issue in demonstration in Scottsdale, Arizona. Photo courtesy Black-Mesa Water-Coalition.

Navajo Nation looking for energy and environmental justice

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — In a peaceful demonstration against energy imperialism, members of Navajo Nation demonstrated the power of solar along the Central Arizona Project canal in Scottsdale, using a large mobile solar-powered generator to run pumps that moved water from the canal into nearby buckets and barrels.

“Many Navajo families had to pen their sheep alone today on the reservation to be here in Scottsdale and show SRP (Salt River Project) that solar works,” said Marshall Johnson, Navajo Nation resident and To Nizhoni Ani co-founder. “We were able to get a little bit of water from CAP pumped into our barrels today before the police moved us, and we are going to take this back to our sheep on the reservation.”

After decades of coal industry on Navajo Nation, many Navajo families have not benefited; thousands still lack electricity and running water to their homes and haul water in trucks every week for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. One of those water trucks was used to bring the solar-powered pump alongside the CAP canal in Scottsdale today.

Navajos held the demonstration to send a message to the owners of the Navajo Generating Station coal-fired power plant near Page, Arizona that Navajo families want a transition away from a polluting coal industry on Navajo land that has powered CAP pumps for decades at the expense of residents’ land, health, water, and culture on the Navajo Reservation. (more…)

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Climate: Careful 100-year temperature analysis shows distinct warming in western Colorado and eastern Utah

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Record also shows slight increase in precipitation

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A study of western Colorado temperature records suggests that global warming in the region is right in line with many other parts of the globe.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Western Colorado and eastern Utah have warmed in the last century, and it appears that precipitation in the region has also increased, according to a new analysis of historic climate data compiled by Grand Junction-based National Weather Service forecaster Joe Ramey.

General long-term trends include cooling from the 1940s through the 1960s, towards warmer and wetter conditions since the 1970s, on par with many other parts of the country and the world.

Specifically, maximum temperatures have risen 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit and minimum temperatures have risen 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit during during the study period going back to 1911, when several towns and cities in the region started to maintain detailed climate data. (more…)

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Congress sets hearing on public lands ‘pay-to-play’ fees

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
Summit County hiking Colorado

Congress will take input on the controversial federal pay-to-play program this week.

Critics say loopholes enable federal agencies to charge illegal fees

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — The federal pay-to-play program will get a once-over in Congress this week, as a House subcommittee hears from agency officials and citizens before the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act expires next year.

At issue are how the fee program for access to public lands is being implemented by federal agencies. The hearing is set to start at 10 a.m. EDT and should be available as webcast via the House Committee on Natural Resources website.

The access fees started in the late 1990s as the so-called fee demo program, enabling federal land agencies to charge fees as long the money was used to improve the area where it was collected. (more…)

Filed under: biking, camping, Colorado, federal government, hiking, recreation, US Forest Service | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Colorado: Grants available for wildfire mitigation

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Flames tower over a stand of piñon trees during the Royal Gorge fire near Cañon City.

New state program aims to reduce the risk of fire in wildland-urban interface

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — State officials say they’re ready to start taking applications for a new $9.8 million grant program aimed at reducing wildfire risks to neighborhoods built in and near flammable forests, where wildfire is a natural part of the ecosystem.

The new program was created by Senate Bill 13-269 and passed this year by the Colorado General Assembly. It focuses on projects that reduce the risk for damage to property, infrastructure, and water supplies, and that limit the likelihood of wildfires spreading into populated areas. Funds will be directed to non-federal lands within Colorado.

Eligible applicants include community groups, local governments, utilities, state agencies and non-profit groups. Applicants must contribute 100 percent matching funds, which can include in-kind resources, for a 50-50 grant-to-match ratio. Applicants must also identify plans to make use of the woody material resulting from the projects. Those plans can include using the materials for biomass energy and/or traditional forest products. (more…)

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Biodiversity: Even at ‘safe’ levels, pesticides are having catastrophic impacts on aquatic ecosystems

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Dragonflies are taking a big hit from pesticides, even at levels deemed “safe” by lab tests. Bob Berwyn photo.

Study documents dramatic regional decline of insect species

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — After studying ecosystems contaminated with pesticides, scientists say they’ve been able to measure a dramatic loss of invertebrate biodiversity in polluted streams and rivers.

The study is one of the first to document the toxic effects of pesticides at a regional ecosystem level, rather than exptrapolating toxicity from lab tests.

“The current practice of risk assessment is like driving blind on the motorway”, said ecotoxicologist Matthias Liess. “To date, the approval of pesticides has primarily been based on experimental work carried out in laboratories and artificial ecosystems.” (more…)

Filed under: Environment, biodiversity | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Climate: Last summer’s Greenland ice sheet surface meltdown linked with an unusual kink in the jet stream

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

July 2012 melt event far surpassed previous record

In the images above, areas classified as “probable melt” (light pink) correspond to sites where at least one satellite detected surface melting. Areas classified as “melt” (dark pink) correspond to sites where two or three satellites detected melting.

In the images above, areas classified as “probable melt” (light pink) correspond to sites where at least one satellite detected surface melting. Areas classified as “melt” (dark pink) correspond to sites where two or three satellites detected melting.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Along with an unusual constellation of low clouds, changes the jet stream were also a factor in last summer’s exceptional surface melt of the Greenland Ice Sheet, according to a research team led by the University of Sheffield’s geography professor Edward Hanna.

A NOAA study published in March indicated that a lingering layer of thin, low clouds helped intensify atmospheric conditions leading to the meltdown.

Hanna and his colleagues used a computer model simulation (called SnowModel) and satellite data to confirm that last summer’s meltdown was unprecedented in the past 50 years. About 90 percent of the ice-sheet surface melted July 11, far surpassing the previous known surface melt extent record of 52 percent in 2010. (more…)

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Biodiversity: Study sheds new light on wolf predation

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Hunting wolves may have less of an impact on elk herds than previously believed. Photo via USFWS.

Three-year tracking project helps show that wolves alone aren’t necessarily responsible for declining elk populations

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — For quite some time, conventional wisdom has held that the presence of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area has had beneficial impacts on the overall ecosystem by keeping elk on the move.

But a new study, led by recent University of Wyoming Ph.D. graduate Arthur Middleton, casts some doubt on that theory. For three years, the researchers closely followed the  Clarks Fork elk herd west of Cody, along with the wolf packs that prey on it. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Environment, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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