RBC I “The more I learned about these aquifers, the more I looked at them as not really storage” Said Dr. Mario Sullivan, Instructor of Science/Oceanography at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely. He spoke with members of the White River Alliance last week, detailing known geologic hydrologic information on[Read More…]
Author: Lucas Turner
Commissioners vote 2-1 to defund election equipment
RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners voted 2-1 this week in favor of defunding Dominion-based vote tabulation machines in the Clerk and Recorder’s office. If implemented, the move would require election officials to hand-count all votes in future elections. The decision came following back-and-forth comments by current/former election officials (who[Read More…]
Avalanche danger moderate, shifting
RBC I Backcountry enthusiasts should be aware that avalanche danger is shifting due to a combination of warm weather and recent snowfall. Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s (CAIC) Brian Lazar highlighted more than 700 avalanches in the last week of February, including large avalanches near Marble and Crested Butte. Lazar said[Read More…]
‘Safehouse 1618’ nets 35+ festival awards
Shepherd’s latest film ‘gets under your skin’ MEEKER I “The point of being a director is finding people who are skilled at their job, whether it be acting or cinematography or sound or music or whatever, and let them kind of do their own thing, because if you don’t, it[Read More…]
White River fish facts
RBC I “By far the most frequently captured species is the mountain whitefish,” said Tory Eyre, aquatic biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife during his presentation to the White River Alliance last week. Titled “State of the Fish: What’s happening with fish in a challenged White River,” the presentation explored[Read More…]
COUNTY BEAT: Rangely rural water project moving forward
RURAL DOMESTIC WATER White River Conservancy District director Alden Vanden Brink updated the board following last week’s River District meeting, noting that low precipitation last month has the area on track for “similar” or “worse” hydrology than last year, barring some big storms to finish winter. More on Page 1.[Read More…]
Snowpack down after dry January
RBC I Following major storms in December, Colorado snowpack looked pretty good, even measuring above average around most of the state. The welcome precipitation broke a “particularly dry” early winter, pushing snowpack to above median levels in some areas of the state. This led experts to project “well above normal”[Read More…]
Burning coal seams pose wildfire risk
RBC I “These mines that are burning in Colorado have been burning for many, many years, some of them over 100 years,” said Tara Tafi, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist for Colorado Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS). Tafi oversees the department’s mine fire program, which[Read More…]
FIRE BREAK MEETING …
Local, state and federal fire officials alike agree on the benefits of a fire break for protecting the town of Meeker from an out of control wildfire. BLM’s Landon Smith answered questions about the proposed project Tuesday night at the Meeker Fire House. Noting a few historical examples of fires[Read More…]
Grant completes 24-hour workout fundraising event
MEEKER I “If I’m in the scenario of that much pain, and I have the option to quit, what would I do? would I keep going, or would I stop?” Dr. Justin Grant told the HT in an interview this week, describing his harrowing experience over the weekend. For 24[Read More…]
Meeting to discuss fire break set for Feb. 1
MEEKER I A proposed “fire break” north of Meeker may soon become reality after multiple years of discussions, planning and navigating red-tape come to a close. Land managers, first responders and emergency personnel’s various descriptions of the concept can be summarized as a proactive fire-protection measure. By clearing vegetation, (particularly[Read More…]
STATE OF THE SNOWPACK …
Even by Colorado standards, late December storms dumped a LOT of snow, depositing 19 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) and bringing statewide values for precipitation to 120% and snowpack to 126% of median, including the combined Yampa-White-Little Snake basin at 117% (top left). Despite large amounts of snow, reservoir[Read More…]
