What in the World is W.O.T.U.S?

What in the world is WOTUS? Simply put, it stands for Waters of the United States. Currently, the determination of what is a water of the U.S. is being questioned and could have damaging effects to the environment and people of this country. In 2015, the Obama administration passed the Clean…

The Mighty Colorado Faces Challenges

The mighty Colorado. Its very name makes some nostalgic, others wishful of adventure and, still others, fearful. Whatever your feelings, we are lucky to have about 55 miles of the Colorado River flowing through our county. Not to mention the Eagle River is a significant headwaters tributary to the Colorado…

Colorado’s mining past and the future of our rivers

The history of mining in Colorado is omnipresent. Whether you’re hiking in the backcountry or driving along I-70, you’re bound to come across something related to mining. The industry, which began when prospectors first discovered gold in 1859 west of Denver, helped the state develop into what we know it…

Big snow and high flows don’t tell the whole story

One hundred and 28 percent. That’s the average snowpack the Upper Colorado River Basin saw for the 2019 winter season, which comprises the Western Slope of Colorado, eastern Utah, and parts of Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. In Colorado, our local watersheds experienced snowpack at 134% of average through the…

Watershed Wildlife: American River Otter

Here in Eagle County, there are more than 270 wildlife species that rely on the river. The clean water flowing through our valley supplies them with drinking water, sustains their food sources and supports the riparian zones they often claim as their habitat. One of those species is Mammalia, Carnivora,…