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Environment

EPA to drill into mine west of Silverton at risk of blowout

EPA to drill into mine west of Silverton at risk of blowout

says it wants to prevent future unplanned releases

January 14, 2021

EPA orders access to water treatment plant north of Silverton

EPA orders access to water treatment plant north of Silverton

has been treating discharges out of Gold King Mine since 2015

January 10, 2021

Animas River shatters all-time record low flow based on 109 years of data

Animas River shatters all-time record low flow based on 109 years of data

1913 record is broken amid prolonged drought

January 5, 2021

Five environmental issues to watch in 2021

Five environmental issues to watch in 2021

Drought, overuse of public lands, mine cleanup top list in Southwest Colorado

December 31, 2020

Why did bears stay away from populated areas this year in Southwest Colorado?

Why did bears stay away from populated areas this year in Southwest Colorado?

Human-bear conflicts had been on the rise, but not in 2020

December 29, 2020

Annual Durango bird count tallies record number of species

Annual Durango bird count tallies record number of species

volunteers likely led to high numbers

December 28, 2020

How did the warm fall impact the natural world?

How did the warm fall impact the natural world?

Weather affects river levels, animal behavior, bird migrations, plant life

December 22, 2020

Driven by Front Range, new oil and gas rules will impact La Plata County

Driven by Front Range, new oil and gas rules will impact La Plata County

regulations protect environment, health, supporters say

December 18, 2020

Lawsuit seeks to close GCC Energy’s King II coal mine

Lawsuit seeks to close GCC Energy’s King II coal mine

Conservation groups say more thorough water study will show excavation unsafe

December 16, 2020

Permit system on the way to control crowds on Ice Lakes Trail

Permit system on the way to control crowds on Ice Lakes Trail

visitation has led to significant impacts on the landscape, Forest Service says

December 3, 2020

Oil and gas drilling could impact Chimney Rock National Monument, critics say

Oil and gas drilling could impact Chimney Rock National Monument, critics say

2,560 acres, some within half mile of archaeological site, could be up for sale

November 22, 2020

BP reports uptick of spills in La Plata County

BP reports uptick of spills in La Plata County

oil and gas company documents nearly 20 spills this year

November 11, 2020

Tough to be a tree: Southwest Colorado’s forests are stressed

Tough to be a tree: Southwest Colorado’s forests are stressed

Drought, wildfire, bark beetles pose collective long-term threat

November 5, 2020

La Plata County targets gun range contamination

La Plata County targets gun range contamination

2021 budget proposes $2.5 million to remove lead

October 15, 2020

Colorado cutthroat restored to 23 miles of Hermosa Creek

Colorado cutthroat restored to 23 miles of Hermosa Creek

Decades-long project creates longest continuous stretch for native fish

October 12, 2020

Prolonged drought results in record-low flows on Animas River

Prolonged drought results in record-low flows on Animas River

could change ‘at the snap of a finger’

October 9, 2020

Fight is back on in HD Mountains

Fight is back on in HD Mountains

interest in an old natural gas field prompts residents to pushback

October 3, 2020

Mining company set to begin exploratory drilling in La Plata Canyon

Mining company set to begin exploratory drilling in La Plata Canyon

Metallic Minerals hopes to find new reserves of copper, other metals

September 27, 2020

Silverton Superfund site to remain on high-priority list, EPA says

Silverton Superfund site to remain on high-priority list, EPA says

‘Emphasis List’ created to speed up what can be lengthy processes

September 25, 2020

Highly invasive aquatic weed discovered in the Animas Valley

Highly invasive aquatic weed discovered in the Animas Valley

Concerns raised about Eurasian watermilfoil spilling into Animas River, Lake Nighthorse

September 11, 2020

TV network to film Ignacio family building earthen home

TV network to film Ignacio family building earthen home

is to construct the house from the ground up in 4 weeks

September 4, 2020

Fewer events result in smaller harvest at Bayfield’s Community Garden

Fewer events result in smaller harvest at Bayfield’s Community Garden

Pandemic decreases participation among stakeholders

August 21, 2020

San Juan Mountains take beating this summer from off-roading

San Juan Mountains take beating this summer from off-roading

Higher-than-normal visitation harms fragile alpine tundra

August 19, 2020

With federal regulations rolled back, New Mexico forges ahead to curb methane

With federal regulations rolled back, New Mexico forges ahead to curb methane

releases draft version of rules July 20, aims for adoption in early 2021

August 17, 2020