Land use

Local News

Judge hears oral arguments in Dollar General civil case

Attorneys argued before Chief Judge Todd Plewe, who said he would issue a written ruling later

May 23, 2026

La Plata County adopts new wildfire resiliency code

State-mandated regulations aim to reduce fire risk; some worry rules will increase construction costs

March 24, 2026

Dolores River conservation act clears Senate committee

Bennet, Hickenlooper bill still needs House sponsor

December 22, 2025

$50,000 grant awarded to preserve wetlands along Animas River

Plata Open Space Conservancy received funds to finance conservation easement for 67-acre property north of Durango

June 30, 2025

GOP plan to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal lands is found to violate Senate rules

Proposal revealed sharp disagreement among Republicans

June 24, 2025

Public lands in Southwest Colorado could be up for sale

budget bill puts recreational areas like Animas Mountain at stake

June 18, 2025

Colorado senators reintroduce bill for Dolores River National Conservation Area

Legislation aims to preserve ecological conditions while honoring existing water and land rights

May 25, 2025

New law allows state land board to consider recreation, conservation

is to balance more diverse values with mandate to generate funds for schools

May 14, 2025

White House to reverse rule promoting conservation on BLM land

Lands Act put restoration on equal footing with ranching and drilling

April 21, 2025

Sen. Bennet chalks wins – and misses – for Southwest Colorado

senator has tackled public lands bills, television markets and FLC tuition waiver

April 11, 2025

Trump picks oil and gas advocate from Colorado to lead Bureau of Land Management

Kathleen Sgamma now leads Denver-based trade group Western Energy Alliance

February 13, 2025

Cortez shares draft of land use code, encourages input

public’s deadline for questions and comments is Feb. 18

January 23, 2025

Colorado lawmakers work to protect Dolores River Canyon by end of year

Republicans oppose Biden designating area a national monument

December 6, 2024

Advocates blast Western Slope counties’ ‘grossly inadequate’ Dolores Canyon conservation plan

Proposal from Mesa and Montrose counties would reduce proposed monument area by more than 90%

July 29, 2024

Wolverines could return to the San Juan Mountains: What will reintroduction look like?

Legislature passed a law directing Colorado Parks and Wildlife to begin the reintroduction process

July 1, 2024

Southern Ute Indian Tribe accuses Durango of illegal land grab in Senate committee hearing

to host information session about La Posta Road project Monday

April 22, 2024

Durango to launch turf grass replacement program encouraging water conservation

Colorado water board grants and Visit Durango to contribute to free landscaping consultations, rebates

February 17, 2024

City of Cortez provides more information on updates to land use code

city has been working with members of the community for input

December 6, 2023

In a deadlocked vote, Montezuma County denies application for Mancos event venue

intense, yearlong debate over Weber Hall has supporters and critics calling for an update to county’s land use code

November 14, 2023

Weber Hall’s owners stand their ground ahead of vote on events venue

Jeremy and Silvina Moore, Tuesday’s decision will cap a year of damage control

November 13, 2023

The long-term future of short-term rentals in SW Colorado

Durango clamped down on vacation rentals six years ago – might La Plata County do the same?

October 9, 2023

Dolores River, CORE Act bills heard by Senate subcommittee

Bennet, Hickenlooper say proposed land protections have support in Colorado

July 14, 2023

What do ranchers, oil producers and bike groups have in common?

all want a say in new federal land management rules

July 7, 2023

Biden wants to make conservation equal to ranching and mining. The GOP won’t have it

Republican-led House committee voted to withdraw a BLM rule it links to ‘Biden’s preservationist agenda’

June 22, 2023