Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Local News

Southern Ute Indian Tribe criticizes company over gasoline spill response

A pipeline south of Durango burst in December, spilling 23,000 gallons of fuel

May 8, 2025

Local News

Federal budget cuts dry up funding for La Plata County Public Health resources

Department ordered to stop work related to childhood vaccination, infectious disease investigation grants

April 2, 2025

Local News

Some residents want end to Durango’s fluoridation of drinking water

experts defend nearly 80-year practice

November 9, 2024

Local News

Some Durango utility customers face $150 plumber fees or disconnected water

seeks to get in compliance with state’s ‘backflow preventer’ testing requirements

August 15, 2024

Local News

Durango becomes ‘sentinel’ site for monitoring diseases like COVID-19 in wastewater

surveilling for enteroviruses, RSV’s and influenza

August 14, 2024

Local News

Southern Utes frustrated about feds’ inaction on medical records issue

Southern Ute chairman says federal Indian Health Service’s ‘characteristic lack of urgency’ exacerbates health disparities

February 10, 2024

Local News

End of an era: 75 years of San Juan Basin Public Health

district dissolved Dec. 31, ending a historic enterprise in regional cooperation

January 8, 2024

Local News

La Plata County settles litigation with state over Bayfield landfill

Commissioners concerned over the financial commitment

December 20, 2023

Local News

Interim public health director departs as dissolution nears

Turnover at the public health department follows a ‘less inclusive’ transition than anticipated

September 16, 2023

Local News

La Plata County resident dies of West Nile virus

was the state’s second death from the virus this year

August 21, 2023

Local News

Three mountain wastewater systems ‘significantly’ noncompliant north of Durango

treatment plants struggle to meet changing state regulations

July 23, 2023

Community

Colorado Department of Public Health urges caution after plague case in Montezuma County

is thought the plague was contracted on private property

June 29, 2023

Local News

How Lightner Creek tested Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Act

Residents benefited from the 2019 law, but also ran into its limitations

May 21, 2023

Local News

Colorado told La Plata County to clean up its landfill; now the state will pay for it

A bill awaiting governor’s signature dedicates money to remediation at sites like the one in Bayfield

May 14, 2023

Local News

State announces $5 million settlement for Gold King, mining damages

Federal government will open its wallet to address natural resource harms in Bonita Peak Mining District

May 11, 2023

Local News

Two months later, some Lightner Creek residents have water

‘I’m so happy, I’m going to take a shower tonight,’ says resident

April 15, 2023

Local News

Durango mobile home park owner defends response to water crisis

orders landlord to file weekly updates with the court

March 14, 2023

Local News

23 days without water: mobile home park owner ordered to explain

seeks to sanction owner for contempt following court order

March 7, 2023

Local News

Court orders mobile home park owner in Durango to deliver more water, toilets

Darlene Mann must also reimburse residents for expenses related to outage

February 28, 2023

Local News

Lightner Creek Mobile home park residents without running water for 11 days

Landlord suspected of violating state law by failing to provide toilets and alternative water source

February 23, 2023

Local News

Patients file lawsuit against Mercy Hospital over infections

Plaintiffs say they suffered postoperative complications as a result of inadequate sterilization procedures

February 6, 2023

Local News

Remaining Colorado COVID-19 testing sites to be closed

Alternative options are being offered at low or no cost

January 7, 2023

Local News

Durango-La Plata Airport to upgrade sewage treatment system

several periods of noncompliance, plans underway for new system

December 24, 2022