Lake City Colorado | The Silver World Newspaper

Lake City Area Medical Center Staff Welcomes New PA Amanda Fender

preparing to serve an influx of patients this summer.Historically, patient volume increases 67 percent between the months of May and October.LCAMC is happy to announce it is now fully staffed following the addition of PhysicianAssistant Amanda Fender, who began her full-time position in April.Amanda joins two other medical providers, Family Nurse Practitioner Sherry Huisman and Dr. Ann Treisman, who is the Medical Director for the clinic.Now with three medical providers, the medical center is able to extend its operating hours to include Saturdays beginning June 6.Amanda Fender grew up in Alabama and attended Auburn University for her undergraduatestudies in Nutrition. When she visited Colorado as a teenager with her father, she fell in lovewith the mountains. She shares her journey to Lake City and views on patient care in her own words below:“I went to PA School at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with the goal of living and working in a rural mountain community in Colorado. I have always had a passion for providing healthcare in remote communities and being a part of a tight-knit mountain town.“When my husband and I first came to Lake City to hike 14ers in 2023, we both fell in love. Ifound out Lake City had a health center and made it my goal to eventually be able to live andwork here.” “I love getting to provide medical care to people who share a passion for the beauty of this remote town. I am passionate about providing care to people so that they can continue to do what they love, where they love.”“I value patient-centered care, taking into account the patient’s goals and values. I like approaching care as though the patient and I are on the same team working towards the same goal for the patient and their health. I am looking forward to providing continuity of care for patients, expanding resources in our town, and continuing to learn and grow alongside the incredible staff here at the Lake City Area Medical Center.”“Outside of work, I am a trail runner and skier. I’m looking forward to running in the San Juan Solstice 50 mile race this summer. I am married to my husband, Kamp, and we have twodogs, Mowgli and River.” Fender joins a medical center team that offers: primary and preventative care, in-clinicprocedures, testing and diagnostics, urgent care, and dental care. According to the medical center’s website, the clinic’s team is committed to “serving the community with compassionate, quality healthcare.LCAMC aims to make healthcareaccessible, compassionate, and reliable.Consistent with Fender’s goal of “expanding resources in town.”Fender recently participated in a portable ultrasound training in Colorado Springs. This Butterfly Ultrasound Device is used for Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), which allows providers to perform rapid imaging without bulky hospital machines. The device, which connects to a cell phone, can assist with quick diagnostics, allowing a trained provider to visualize internal medical problems.Commonly used for trauma assessments, cardiac screening, lung imaging, OBGYN imaging,and bladder scans, the POCUS device expands the capabilities of the medical center to assessand treat patients.In recent months, in collaboration with other healthcare partners, medical center staff have endeavored to expand urgent care preparedness, as required by the clinic’s distinction as a certified Rural Health Center.Dr. Treisman has been collaborating with Dr. Avery Mackenzie — Medical Director for HCEMS and ER doctor at Montrose Memorial Hospital — to strengthen urgent care capabilities and readiness. Staff have participated in several scenario-based training sessions this spring.Storm Gozola, RN, and Rachel Moore, Executive Director and EMT, recently attended aPediatric Preparedness Seminar in Crested Butte. The seminar featured Pediatric Medical Specialists from Children’s Hospital of Colorado and EMS for Children Colorado.The training focused on equipping medical providers to assess and treat children presenting with medical emergencies and included both case reviews and hand-on skills training.Rachel Moore with EMT and Administrative Assistant Sarah DeCristino attended the Colorado Rural Healthcare Conference in April, seeking to learn from similar medical clinics across the state.Melody Crump, EMT and CNA, is soon to complete her training and education as a Registered Nurse.While Lake City Area Medical Center is fully staffed with medical personnel, they do currently seek to hire a janitor. The job offers a flexible schedule and an opportunity to work in adynamic team environment. Clinic staff invites the community to join them in welcoming Amanda Fender to Lake City, in celebrating Melody Crump’s recent completion of her nursing education, and to consider how the local clinic can help meet your medical needs this summerand in the future.Next week’s SILVER WORLD will include an article welcoming a Physical Therapist, now operating out of the medical center building.

May 22, 2026 No Comments

Wiring Determined as Cause Wade’s Addn. Blaze

Last Thursday morning’s destructive Wade’s Addition house fire, reported in last week’s SILVER WORLD, has been determined to be caused by defective electric wiring. According to Lake City Fire Chief Justin Thompson, the determination is the result of an inspection the day following the blaze, Friday, May 15, by Kevin Crawford, an investigator based out of Grand Junction with Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. As reported last week, the Wildflower Cabins’ rental cabin destroyed in the blaze was of older vintage, dating to construction in 1954, with old electric wiring. The cabin was unoccupied at the time and was being readied for summer use, Investigator Crawford determination being that an electric motor seized and caused the fire as the result of a light and ceiling fan which were left on over night. Since our report on the fire last week, SILVER WORLD has learned that an unsung hero assisting in alerting neighbors to the early morning fire on Thursday was Wade’s Addition resident Jim Gowdy. Gowdy, who lives on Park Street within a half block of Wildflower Cabins, apparently sighted the escalating flames from both the cabin and an adjacent spruce tree which caught fire, and dashed across the street to alert neighbors prior to arrival of the fire department. At the across-the-street Rightsell residence, he banged on windows, also alerting residents of the Waddington house which is just across the alleyway from the burning building.

May 22, 2026 No Comments

Dear Editor,

“The NATOPS is written in blood.” That’s a quote a Naval Aviator can recite faster than the ubiquitous “In God We Trust” inscribed on the back of a dollar bill. It is a mantra hammered into our heads more times than the actual Emergency Procedures the NATOPS dictates a pilot memorize.“NATOPS” is one of thousands of acronyms the U.S. military is known for, and there is no greater acronym-maker than the U.S. Navy. “Naval Air Training and Operating ProceduresStandardization” is what NATOPS stands for. It was the result of a giant push by the Navy in the mid-1960s to standardize the way we train and operate Naval aircraft. It accompanied a greater push within the aviation community to adopt similar measures to enhance aviation training and safety. That greater push led to the industry-wide creation of Aviation Safety Programs and the necessary training to implement them, including the famed School of Naval Aviation Safety, of which I am an alumnus. This overall safety push stemmed from decades of military and civilian aviation mishaps resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and millions of dollars of aircraft and trained pilots. After the successful implementation of programs like NATOPS, aviation mishaps decreased at an exponential rate. The quote “the NATOPS is written in blood” stems from the colloquial use of NATOPS to refer to the operating manual of a Naval aircraft, specifically the limitations and operating parameters that, if operated outside of, will likely lead to death or great bodily injury. Oftentimes, someone quite literally died to find the limit stated in the NATOPS. It is an Aviator’s bible; it defines the Policy, Processes, and Procedures to safely operate a Naval aircraft in the fleet. From it, checklists are created to ensure adherence, and boldface Emergency Procedures arememorized for rapid implementation. There are many ways in which my experience as a Naval Aviator correlates to my experience as a POST Certified Peace Officer in Colorado.“POST” is an acronym for Peace Officer Standards and Training, and is very similar in practice, purpose, and creation to NATOPS. It was created to standardize training and operating parameters in law enforcement. The “Blue Book” is a Peace Officer’s bible. It is a single reference point “operating manual” of sorts for a Colorado Peace Officer. It consists of the most recent—and most important—Colorado Revised Statutes (laws) as well as other information pertaining to Colorado law enforcement. Violation of Colorado or US Federal law by peace officers creates “case law,”further defining parameters under which Law Enforcement operates. From both of these sources, individual agencies create Policy, Processes, and Procedures. Just as the NATOPS is written in blood, law enforcement Policy is derived from case law. My experience at the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office led me to observe the agency has very little Policy, Processes, and Procedures, and absolutely zero checklists or required memorized procedures.With no systems and no checks and balances, it does not produce a quality and professional law enforcement product. This lack of professionalism is one facet that led to my resignation.This lack of Policy, Processes, and Procedures within the HCSO directly led to the Rule 16 Discovery Violation exposed in last week’s paper to be the reason the 7th Judicial Assistant District Attorney was forced to plea bargain the Earley case to lesser charges. During my tenure as a Hinsdale Deputy, Rule 16 Discovery Violations were the norm. Frustratedevidence technicians within the 7th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Gunnison began to reach out to me individually with Discovery requests, knowing I would take them seriously and respond in a timely manner.Undertaking these Administrator-level tasks required me to operate well outside the normal scope of practice of a lowly Deputy. Though unnoticed by HCSO Administration, my taking of the initiative in this arena was praised by 7th Judicial DA’s Office personnel who were excited to “finally have an ally” within the HCSO.As Sheriff, I will implement the Policy, Processes, and Procedures of a professional law enforcement agency, as I have been trained to do in now two careers. This is simply one of many ways I will improve the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office and once again make the agency something the community can be proud of.In next week’s letter, I will discuss the recent unethical firing of Hinsdale County Sheriff’s OfficeAcademy Cadet Ethan Twamley by the current Sheriff’s Office Administration ten days beforegraduation, as well as debut my campaign website.\ As Captain John Paul Jones infamously stated in 1779, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Dan StrausbaughLieutenant US Navy, (Ret.)Candidate, Hinsdale County Sheriff

May 15, 2026 No Comments

Morning Fire Destroys Wade’s Addition Cabin

Fire of unknown origin has destroyed a log-sided frame rental cabin in Wade’s Addition.The blaze, which also engulfed an adjacent spruce trees, was first called in to Lake City Fire/Rescue firefighters at 1:58 a.m. on Thursday, May14, at which time the cabin — part of an eight- cabin rental complex at Wildflower Cabins — was fully engulfed.Fighting the destructive blaze, according to Lake City Fire Chief Justin Thompson, was made all the more difficult by close proximity of other frame rental units in the resort as well as neighboring homes on Spruce Street, including both the Allison and Zairick Waddington home (former Pat and Jake Jacobs) and Donny and Jen Rightsell’s home across the street on Spruce Street, where residents aided firefighters with water hoses.Also immediately adjacent to the burning cabin and within what Thompson refers to an “exposure containment zone” adding to the challenging conditions was a spruce tree fully ablaze and described as a “giant Roman Candle” by neighbors and three propane tanks which closely abutted the burning structure.Fire Chief Thompson, who arrived on scene at 1:58 a.m., says the fire was contained by 2:15 a.m. Thursday. In addition to fire engines 91 and 93, and tanker 1, also on scene were firefighters Mike Carson, Evan Milski, Mike Ralph, R.E. Hall, Greg Levine, Matt Jones, Jared Fledge, Joel Collins, Rick Hernandez, and Mike Tuttle.Thompson praises fire fighters for their quick and efficient response, saying “they did a spectacular job.”Wildflower Cabins, purchased by Teresa and Robin Wagner — together with Chris and Amy Hoedebeck, who now own Wagon Wheel Resort, in September, 2021, is a popular, 72-year-old resort which has periodically been renamed and remodeled since its original construction in 1954.Coincidentally, this is not the first destructive fire at the resort.Built as a 10 cabin resort by Kline Shaver in 1953 and known as Kline’s Cabin, the resort was totally destroyed by fire in January, 1954.Volunteer firefighters with a single pumper truck were summoned from an evening basketball game in the Armory to the blaze after a loud propane tank explosion was reported in Wade’s Addition.One of the fire fighting volunteers, neighboring property owner Ben Griffiths, was injured when a door was blown off its hinges and he sustained a broken pelvis. The fire was contained but reignited the following morning and entirely destroyed the resort.Undeterred, Kline Shaver quickly rebuilt the resort in time for the start of the 1954 tourist season.The resort has undergone numerous name changes and names in subsequent years, including being renamed Red cloud Resort when owned by E.A. Baldridge, and Westwood Resort during the long proprietorship of Glen and Barbara Lohn.

May 15, 2026 No Comments

Water Orders Lifted Thursday, April 30

Lake City’s water service experienced a snafu late last month when a malfunction occurred at the Bluff Street well Sunday morning, April 26, placing the town under boil water and essential use only orders.Thanks to hardworking town staff, in conjunction with Lake City Area Fire Department and Gunnison Public Works water lab, the orders were both fully lifted by the evening of April 30.Town Manager Lex Mulhall credits Public Works employees Ethan Wuest, Willy Merfeld and Riley Moore who worked nearly around the clock to remedy the situation, as well as Lake City Area Fire Protection District volunteers who assisted in flushing the water system and fire hydrants, working through the night Wednesday, April 29.Mayor Dave Roberts and town staff tell WORLD they would also like to thank Paradise Property and Bruce Curry, Donny Rightsell, Jason Morrison and R.E. Hall for making a trip to Gunnison Monday morning, April 27, to purchase cases of water that they distributed throughout Lake City that afternoon.

May 8, 2026 No Comments

New Exhibits Spiffed and Polished for Museum’s Memorial Weekend Opening

In advance of the 51st anniversary of its opening in 1975, Hinsdale County Museum is gearing up for free-admission opening day on Saturday, May 23, marking the start of an exciting summer season.According to Duane Keprta of Kennedy Dry Goods, who has taken over from Karen McClatchie as docent coordinator, the museum will be open limited hours between now and June 15 when the seven-days-per-week schedule begins.For Memorial Weekend, May 23 and 24, Hinsdale County Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with free admission and Sunday, May 24, 1 to 4 p.m., $10 admission adults and $2. Through June 15, the museum will be open afternoons 1 to 4 p.m.Volunteer docents this season include Karen McClatchie, Sharon Rogers, Chris Moler, Glenn Heumann, Tom Loots, Denny Brannon, Henry and Julie Rothschild, Rene Faires, Alice Attaway and Kristen Lentz, together with subs Mike Harrington, Heidi Hewett, Ed Maas, and Linda Gardiner.In addition to Keprta as docent coordinator, other new museum staffing includes Jake Gumbert who takes the place of Shayla Rightsell as Administrative Coordinator.Gumbert, who previously worked at Crested Butte Ski Area and, in Lake City, assisted at Community Banks of Colorado and manning the aquatic nuisance station at Lake San Cristobal, has already been hard at work solidifying this season’s schedule of events at the county museum.Keynote on the summer schedule is Colorado Day, August 1, marking the return of completely restored Denver & Rio Grande Railroad narrow gauge passenger and freight Car 211.The railroad car regularly serviced Lake City between about 1910 and discontinuation of the Lake City branch of the railroad in 1933. In extremely deteriorated condition, the car was briefly returned to Lake City in 2018 but for the past five years has undergone top-to-bottom extensive restoration by craftsmen at Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, Colorado.Completed at a cost in excess of $400,000, Car 211 returns to Lake City in July and will be formally inaugurated at a 1 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony on Colorado Day, August 1.Also planned Saturday afternoon, August 1, are tours of the restored railroad car and lectures by museum directors Mette Flynt, Grant Houston, and Glenn Heumann.Coordinated with free museum admission and refreshments served on the museum grounds, Glenn Heumann will detail the comprehensive, multi-year restoration process. Houston and Flynt will speak on the significance of the Lake City Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad — did you know marriage vows were conducted on the halted train July 9, 1892, on Miller Flats for the wedding of Elizabeth Miller and A. Alex Messler or, another interesting fact, that armed guards were employed when individual freight cars with ore from the Golden Fleece Mine valued upwards of $60,000 were sent out from Lake City.The railroad car’s former owner, Don Shank, will also speak on Car 211’s more recent history, including the car’s use on Don Drawers’ short-lived Sundown & Southern Railroad at Fort Lupton, Colorado.Car 211 dedication weekend at Hinsdale County Museum also includes a major fundraiser, return of the popular Victorian Banquet which was a social highlight dating back to the early 1980s when it was started by the late Betsy Cheney at the old 1880 Tea Room in the Hough Block.Updated to 2026, the four-course dinner fundraiser — again with Victorian attire suggested but not required — will be held at newly remodeled Climb Elevated Eatery on Sunday evening, August 2.With wine and appetizers de rigueur, Razvan Armeanca explains that entrees, depending on choice victuals available at the time, will consist of a selection of beef, chicken or fish, together with a vegetarian option, followed by scrumptious dessert.A cash bar will be available for mixed drinks.Ticket price for the society fund replenisher fundraiser is $100 per person, further details anon and reservations in the meantime by calling the museum, 970 944 2050 or via the museum website.Summer, 2026, unveilings of new exhibits at Hinsdale County Museum, include panels custom designed and researched by Mette Flynt commemorating 250th anniversary of the United States and 150th-year anniversary for State of Colorado.Photos on display include a 1976 photo of the late Ruthanna Urankar Hall, with Lake City Mayor Bud McDonald and Bud Weems for Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce, celebrating the state’s 100th birthday in 1976.The Centennial photo is appropriately part of a new display featuring a rolltop executive’s desk willed to the museum by the late Mrs. Hall, topped with an 1870s barbershop back bar which was at one time owned by the late Larry Pavich.Topping the list of new displays at Hinsdale County Museum are a Car 211 display in the Transportation Building highlighting looped video on the Lake City Branch of the D&RG by Gunnison resident Russ Lallier; textiles on manikins feature Selma Benson’s 1915 graduation gown from Lake City High School and formidable 1890s “traveling dress” worn by Lake City matron Severnia Benson.In line with the graduation dress and as a salute to Hinsdale County School District recognizing its 150th anniversary since start in 1876, the museum has gathered an extensive collection of Lake City High School graduation announcements starting with the first 10th Grade announcement in 1898, first 12th Grade graduation in 1901, and working up to announcements in the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s.The museum’s front window display highlights students’ individual slate writing tablets and wrought iron desks dating to the 1870s, together with a wall relief map and high school science equipment dating to the tenures of Prof. G. Franklin Hoff and Prof. H.G. Heath in the 1890s and early 1900s.Also displayed from the museum’s textile collections this summer is Finella Fueller’s 1895 wedding dress when she married ranchman Webster Whinnery at First Presbyterian Church and the ballroom gown worn by Mrs. Whinnery at Governor Peabody’s gubernatorial inauguration in Denver in 1903.A showstopper clearly visible at the museum entrance and installed on the museum’s back wall is a custom-designed and secured, wooden, LED-lit cabinet crafted by Mike Carson containing the Harvey and Katherine DuChene Mineral Collection which is a mesmerizing

May 8, 2026 No Comments

Regular Meetings, Special Sessions Top Busy April for County Board

by Jodi Linsey Hinsdale County Commissioners were kept busy with their regular meetings and special meetings in April, with their regularly scheduled workshops and meetings on April 1 and April 15, and two additional special meetings pertaining to Hinsdale County EMS on April 8 and 14.Since the February 26 dismissal of Amanda Hartman there have been numerous communications from then Chief Paramedic Brad Jones and EMS Director Katherine Heidt to the Commissioners, which resulted in a tense meeting with Heidt on April 8. Jones resignation on April 9, and a contentious special meeting on April 14 with the Commissioners, Director Heidt, Medical Director Avery MacKenzie, and a large audience on Zoom and in person.The first special meeting occurred on April 8, dealing with three updates to Heidt’s job description and duties. Following a reminder from Commissioner Borchers that all employees of Hinsdale County were subject to periodic updates to their job descriptions, Heidt was asked to comment on the revisions regarding her duties.Her only response was to refer them to previously submitted remarks.The other special meeting was held following the resignation of Jones, and the lone agenda item was to discuss Hinsdale County EMS.Commissioners invited Heidt and Medical Director MacKenzie to attend to discuss the reduction of the local EMS service from Advanced Life Support (ALS) to Basic Life Support (BLS). There were no conclusions as to how to move forward from this move.Heidt presented a letter for the consideration of the Commissioners and audience (WORLD, April 17).Due to the uncertainty of Brad Jones’ relationship with Hinsdale County EMS, Commissioners Robert Hurd, Kristie Borchers, and Greg Levine removed him as the Alternate County Representative to the Gunnison Hinsdale Combined Emergency Telephone Service Authority (GHCETSA) at the April 1 meeting.This partnership operates the regional 911 dispatch center for Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties.At the next regular meeting on April 15, Commissioners appointed to the alternate position Undersheriff Jordan Kaminski, newly returned to service at Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Department. In other county news was an update at the April 1 meeting about the All Hazards Team. County Financial Director Lynn McNitt reported that they have wrapped up all of the 2025 accounts and have had three invoices paid thus far in 2026.McNitt also reported the county has received the 2024 distribution of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding, amounting to $159,000, to be split evenly with Hinsdale County School District. These Title I funds are made available through the U.S. Forest Service for the maintenance of roads and schools in counties with large amounts of Federal lands that do not pay property taxes.Good news for fishermen and women ready to take to Lake San Cristobal is confirmation Commissioner Levine has completed training to conduct boat inspections for invasive aquatic species. He plans to fill in when needed, such as during the shoulder seasons when there is not a regular schedule ofPuebloinspectors.A milestone in the creation of an Early Childhood Coalition is the formation of the inaugural Board of Directors. Lily Virden, representing Wee Care; Tara Anderson of Silver Thread Public Health District; Corrine Jaegar representing the Hinsdale/Gunnison Early Childhood Coalition; and Kayla Gowdy, parent of a Wee Care student.Among the other topics addressed at the regular workshop on April 1 was the new State requirement for a Wildfire Resiliency Code, which will be analyzed before adoption. Also presented was a tour of the updated Flood Risk Draft Map presented by Deputy Assessor Sarah Tubbs.Commissioners received a request from County Veterans Affair Officer Mike Harrington to add two men to the Hinsdale County Veteran’s Memorial located in the park by the Courthouse. Edwin ‘Ed’ Nettleton and Francis James ‘Bud’ Weems both served their country and the Lake City community and will have that service enshrined.A potential Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Town of Lake City and Hinsdale County regarding the efforts to implement the Comprehensive Housing Plan was discussed.In previous discussions between the two entities, it was determined that each would pursue funding to hire a Housing Coordinator to begin implementing the plan, including identifying sustainable funding sources and developing protocols for each aspect of the plan.The IGA under discussion would cover this initial contract and launch of the plan.News from the transfer station is that organic debris, such as brush and tree trimmings, are now less expensive to dispose of, so as to promote fire mitigation by homeowners and contractors. The previous cost was $12.75 per yard and is now $6.35 per yard. This debris will either be chipped on site or will be burned if the conditions allow. Borchers stated that “This is the single most important thing a homeowner can do to protect themselves.”

April 23, 2026 No Comments

Roberts Re-Elected Lake City Mayor in April 7 Election

Preliminary numbers are in for the April 7 Town election, with Mayor Dave Roberts holding a significant lead over mayoral candidate Jodi Linsey; Roberts with 120 votes and Linsey with 79.Trustee candidates Kaylin Trivisonno, Henry Woods and Nathan Wuest received 147, 132 and 138 votes, respectively. There will still be one trustee seat vacant after this election, which will be filled by appointment at a later date.According to Town Clerk Christina Bowman, there were 200 ballots verified and counted, with a total of ten ballots held in reserve for signature verification. The casters of these ballots are being notified in writing of the discrepancy, and they have eight days to confirm that the signatures are genuine.A total of 351 ballots were delivered by mail to voters, with only one coming back spoiled or needing to be replaced. Forty-six ballots were unused, six were returned as undeliverable, with zero being disqualified and zero unofficial, emergency or substitute ballots.Election judges were Karen McClatchie, Carol Robinson, Bill Stewart, Alice Attaway and Rebecca Kaminski. Final ballot certification will take place April 16 after the eight-day signature verification time is up.Mayor Roberts was first elected Mayor in 2022, after Bruce Vierheller retired, and Roberts served as Trustee for many years before becoming Mayor. Trustees Trivisonno, Woods and Wuest, along with Mayor Roberts have also been elected to four year terms.

April 10, 2026 No Comments

Town Mayoral, Trustee Election Tuesday, April 7

Registered voters within town limits should now have their Town of Lake City ballots for the Town election April 7. According to Town Clerk Christina Bowman, approximately 30 percent of the ballots have been returned; 105 out of 345 total ballots as of Wednesday, April 1. Voters can still register through the County Clerk’s Office up to election day, so the total number of registered voters may increase between now and then.The ballot will consist of a choice between mayoral candidates Dave Roberts and Jodi Linsey, and three Trustee candidates: Kaylin Trivisonno, Henry Woods, Nathan E. Wuest. Trustee Jesse Kendall is not seeking re-election, so the Town Board of Trustees will still have a vacant Trustee seat after the election which can be filled by appointment should anyone step forward.There are a total of five election judges: Alice Attaway, Karen McClatchie, Bill Stewart, Rebecca Kaminski and Carol Robinson.Bowman tells WORLD that the earliest any oaths of office can be administered will be April 15; although if it is a close race and signature discrepancies need to be resolved, the swearing-ins may need to be pushed to a later date. WORLD will keep readers in the loop regarding oaths of office after Election Day.9

April 2, 2026 No Comments

Dire Outlook Cited by County’s Water Basin Rep

by Bruce Heath I am currently serving as the Hinsdale County Representative on the Gunnison River Basin Round table.Mother Nature and human nature have combined to produce a historic low water availability crisis for the seven states in the Colorado River Basin.For the past 25 years, the southwest has been in the longest drought in the past 1,200 years. Moisture in mountain snow pack that then melts into river water is the very life blood of our region.This winter, depending on location, portions of Colorado have produced readings that are nearing — with potential to surpass by April 1 — the two lowest years since recording began 75 years ago.This winter’s low snow has created an immediate water emergency.Since 1922, users in the Colorado River system have followed laws about how water is apportioned to seven states in the upper and lower basins.Annually, flows in the river vary considerably due to the wide variance in winter snow totals. In the face of these variances, a vast array of reservoirs were built to provide a reliable water source for the lower basin states. The two largest reservoirs are Lake Powell and Lake Mead with Powell having become the “key” to making the agreement work.Although the 1922 agreement was based on deeply flawed data and future water availability assumptions, the “laws of the river” for water distribution proved adequate until 2006.The mega drought began in 2000. Having no way to know the magnitude of the ensuing drought, the lower basin states kept taking their legal water right from Powell. All involved believed future “wet” snow years would restore the capacity.In 2007, the seven states — having seen Lake Powell go from nearly full in 2000 to 50 percent of capacity in 2006 — agreed to a set of restricted release and usage guidelines to be followed in critically dry years. With several modifications, these have been in place for 18 years.Originally, it was thought that the two sets of tiered dam outlets allowed for up to 90 percent of the reservoir capacity to be released downstream. However, in 2023, a design flaw in the Glen Canyon Dam became known, making it a critical impediment to downstream users having access to the reservoirs’ stored water.If the water elevation drops below the upper inlets, the four lowest river outlets near the bottom of the dam have proven to not be functional. The Director of the Bureau’s Technical Service Center who has advised against using the outlet works as the sole means for releasing water from the dam. A previous high-capacity use of them for only 72 hours in 2023 caused structural damage, which required nine months to repair.Despite the remedial effort, the Bureau concluded the repairs will not prevent future damage. So for now, close to 4-million acre feet of water is “trapped” in Powell.The elevation of the reservoir has to remain above the upper inlets built into the dam that allow water to pass through to the turbines that generate electricity and then be sent down stream to lower basin users. In the years when the previous low snow readings were set, Powell was near 100 percent capacity and water levels were well above the upper inlets.This allowed water to be released downstream to meet the legal right of the lower basin. Today, Powell is currently at 24 percent of capacity and approaching that critical water level where Glen Canyon dam would experience operational failure because water level would be below the upper inlets.Knowingly facing an October 1, 2026 expiration of the operating guidelines, the seven states have met multiple times over the past two years to negotiate new release operating rules for critical dry years. All the sessions failed to reach agreement.Having missed the final deadline of February 14, 2026, the Bureau of Reclamation [BRC] has announced they will suggest the new operating rules, dictating who gets what amount of water during severe drought years.So far the alternatives suggested by the BRC have been soundly rejected by all seven states.With much of Colorado experiencing record high temperatures, the meager snow pack is melting early. This spring, river runoff flows into Powell are expected to be 25 percent of the past 30 year average. That would be nearing the lowest low flow that has occurred in the last 60 years.The situation has become so dire that a near term stopgap decision is being forced to avoid Glen Canyon dam operational failure. This operational failure, in turn, would prevent water flowing into the lower basin states via Lake Mead.Until system-wide hydrology conditions have shown meaningful improvement, several decisions must be made.There are 34 tracked reservoirs upstream from Powell. As a system, they are capable, based on current capacity, of contributing at least one emergency water release to Powell this year.This on its own will not be enough to keep the water level high enough to maintain the dam’s functionality. Releases out of Powell will also need to be curtailed to keep water elevation above the upper inlets. Then, voluntary lower basin cuts in their water use will likely also be required by at least one million acre feet.Depending on the actual amount of spring runoff, the upper basin may also have to cut consumption to insure inflows to Powell contribute to maintaining the needed elevation at the dam.The impending life style changes and negative economic implications from less water available to use by all involved parties are enormous.What users are involved: Seven states. 5.5-million acres of agriculture land that produces $5-billion in revenue and 90 percent of the green leaf vegetables we consume in the winter use Colorado river irrigation water.Forty-million people use river water in some way daily. Five-million people depend on dam hydro electricity, 30 Native American tribes and Mexico are river water users.Both Phoenix and Denver get 40 percent of their water from the Colorado River. The river supplies water to almost all the cities in the greater Los Angeles, San Bernadino and San Diego areas.Agricultural junior water rights in

March 27, 2026 No Comments

Tag: Lake City Colorado