One Year and counting. . .

Regarding the Village at Wolf Creek Environmental Impact Statement

No word yet.

At least not from my listening post out here in the hinterlands.

It has been a year since the "comment period" deadline passed.

It is fun to entertain thoughts that perhaps this long count is a good sign,
but considering the state of power politics these days, who can tell?

Southwest Faces Looming Threats From Climate Change

I was at a meeting a few days ago where an old timer talked about dealing with our extended drought and hanging on until "normal" rain patterns return.  I couldn't let that pass and stood up to point out that our planet has entered a new climate regime and using past experience to plan for the future is a recipe for disaster.  

West Fork Fire Complex - 7/10/2013 - unofficial update

There's been an interesting Op-ed printed in the July 12, 2013 High Country News by John Maclean titled "Stand down from Western wildfires" that's worth a read if you live in a rural-urban interface.

https://www.hcn.org/articles/stand-down-from-western-wildfires?src=feat?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Archuleta County Fire Ban

As of July 10th, 2013

Fire restrictions* are in place for ALL AREAS in Archuleta, Mineral, and Hinsdale Counties South of the Continental Divide

For details link here

Photo taken from aboard the International Space Station on June 19, 2013

Horse Evacuation Plan... S.J.Nat'l Forest FIRE RESTRICTION NOTICE

Not much happening with the fires except that they keep burning away - awaiting a change in weather to change their behavior.

Courtesy of the Archuleta County Emergency Information

Monday, July 1, 2013

SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST FIRE RESTRICTION NOTICE

As of July 2nd, fire restrictions are in place for the entire San Juan National Forest. U.S. Forest Service regulations at lower elevations are more restrictive than those at higher elevations.

For more information, please go to: http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan

The Archuleta County Emergency Management has published this statement to help folks with live stock, mainly horses, but also in general it gives an outline of good planning and preparation that any owner of live stock should think about before a fire is threatening them.  Seems to me a good thing to help share:

Saturday, June 29, 2013Horse Evacuation Plan Press Release 

West Fork Fire Complex - Tuesday,7/2/13 - 8 AM - unofficial update

CDOT Special Message:  The Colorado Department of Transportation reopened US 160 over Wolf Creek Pass this morning at 6:00 am.  If fire activity warrants, the highway could be re-closed, so travelers are urged to check road conditions at www.cotrip.org for updated road information. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

For those curious about the global warming, bark beetle, forest fire connection please see:  

"The Changing Face Of Our Forests - bark beetle and global warming"
and 
"A citizen's review of the 'San Juan Bark Beetles and Watersheds Workshop'"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=81485

Thick smoke billows across the landscape in these digital photographs of the western United States. Both photographs were taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on June 19, 2013.

West Fork Fire, Windy Peak Fire - 6/23/13 - 4pm - unofficial update

Sunday morning and the fires continue to burn although it seems like the Windy Peak Fire on the other side of the mountain from Wolf Creek Ski Area has slowed, in fact some sources don't even report the fire.

The town of South Fork remains OK, in part because the fire came to an Aspen Forest that wouldn't light up, so the fire took a detour.  The town remains evacuated, with a large contingent of fire fighters and equipment ready to confront any renewed threat to the town.  Further into the mountains the West Fork Complex has burned close to 70,000 acres as of Saturday afternoon.

Further east the East Peak Fire near Walsenburg continues growing to over 10,000 acres, though it's reported to be 10% contained.

West Fork Fire complex and Windy Pass Fire (6/22/2013-7:30am)

Here's an informal update on current fires around the Wolf Creek Pass and the Alberta Park watershed area.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friday June 21, 2013  3:00 MDT