Statewide fire ban enacted in Colorado

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Open fires, private fireworks now prohibited

Firefighters at the High Park Fire in Larimer County work to protect structures. PHOTO COURTESY INCIWEB.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —Although the two biggest wildfires currently burning in Colorado were both started by lightning, state officials want to reduce the chance of human-caused blazes by implementing a statewide ban on open fires and the private use of fireworks.

A bone-dry late winter and spring, along with well-above average temperatures several months in a row, have created dangerous fire conditions throughout much of the state. Any small fires could quickly grow out of control.

By most measures, at least three-quarters of all wildfires are started by human activities, including carelessness, escaped agricultural fires, forestry operations, sparks from off-road vehicles and even discarded cigarettes. Those statistics hold true in most other countries, as well.

In Summit County, the two most recent significant wildfires were caused by downed powerlines, including the Montezuma Fire in March, and the June 2011 fire at the mouth of Keystone Gulch. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado River advocates rally in Denver

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Diversions on the tributary streams of the Upper Colorado River leave little water for fish.

EPA evaluation supports claims that new diversions will push the already ailing Colorado River toward the brink

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado River advocates will once again rally in downtown Denver today, hoping to persuade Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to take another look at a plan to divert yet-more water from the already severely depleted Upper Colorado.

The rally, set for 11 a.m.on the Capitol steps, comes just a week after the EPA weighed in on Northern Water’s Windy Gap Firming Project, which would divert even more water from Colorado River through a tunnel to the northern Front Range.

At issue is an environmental study for the project prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. While the study outlines mitigation measures that go beyond what’s been done in previous transmountain diversions, the EPA and conservation advocates don’t think it’s enough. First and foremost, a bypass is needed to ensure healthy flows below the diversion, along with more robust flushing flows and monitoring. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Colorado, Environment, rivers, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Land stewardship ethic more critical than ever

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

New organization aims to engage 1 million Coloradans in volunteer efforts

Public lands in Colorado need your help.

By Bob Berwyn

Volunteers in Colorado donated 1.3 million hours of their time in 2010 to care for habitats, build trails, preserve historic structures, educate youth and adults about the environment and staff visitor. The combined value of these efforts is nearly $28 million, according to a new report released by the Colorado Stewardship Advisory Council.

Hundreds of people came to the  State Capitol April 21 to celebrate those efforts on April 21, designated by Governor John Hickenloope Outdoor Stewardship Day. The purpose was to raise awareness about the important role of  volunteerism plays in protecting and preserving state and national Parks, national forests and BLM lands. (more…)

Filed under: BLM, Colorado, Colorado State Parks, Environment, forests, national parks, public lands, Summit County Colorado, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Gov. Hickenlooper will tour Summit forests

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Young trees like these lodgepoles at the Old Dillon Reservoir trailhead, are now being killed by bark beetles.

State, federal foresters will lead site visit to local forest health treatment areas; public access limited because of potential safety concerns

By Bob Berwyn

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the tour is NOT open to the public because of safety concerns.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will be in Summit County March 30 to visit a couple of sites where collaborative forest treatments have reduced the risk to municipal water supplies and to residential areas.

Along with U.S. Forest Service rangers and local officials, Hickenlooper will tour the Straight Creek watershed protection project, a collaborative effort by the Town of Dillon, Dillon Valley Water, Denver Water, the U.S. Forest Service, the Colorado State Forest Service and private stakeholders.

Read this Summit Voice story to learn what types of trees are growing back in beetle-killed stands. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Dillon Ranger District, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests, pine beetles, pine beetles and wildfires, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Scanlan: Education, transportation high on the agenda

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Christine Scanlan is leaving her Colorado House District 56 seat to take a high level position with the incoming Hickenlooper administration.

New post involves helping gain legislative support for Governor-elect John Hickenlooper’s agenda

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Education and transportation will be high on Christine Scanlan’s agenda as she starts working for Governor-elect John Hickenlooper.

Scanlan, who won re-election as the representative for House District 56 (covering Summit, Eagle and Lake counties), announced Tuesday that she’s taking a post as the director of legislative affairs and strategic initiatives in the new state administration.

Her seat will be filled by a vacancy committee made up of Democratic Party leaders from the three counties. Josh Lautenberg, co-owner of a Vail real estate company, has already announced his interest in the seat, according to a report from Real Vail. He is the son of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat from New Jersey.

Scanlan said she could understand how some voters might be frustrated with her early departure from the legislature. She said she also had questions about leaving the seat that she worked hard to win, but said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work in the executive branch at the statewide level. The post involves helping to usher Hickenlooper’s agenda through the legislature, she said. (more…)

Filed under: Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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