Southwestern Colorado’s rivers are unique in that many of the rivers and tributaries flow from north to south and are administered as independent river systems. This is due to the fact that many, such as the Navajo, Blanco, Piedra, Pine, Florida, Animas, La Plata, and Mancos Rivers, are tributary to the San Juan River in New Mexico or just upstream of the state line.

Fire crews continued to work mostly within the perimeter of the Little Sand Fire near Pagosa Springs on Monday and built firelines along U.S. Forest Service Road 639. The problems were manageable considering what firefighters are dealing with in southwestern New Mexico. The goal is to keep the fire where it is – north of the Piedra River near Pagosa Springs.

The next Piedra River Workgroup meeting will be conducted at the Ross Aragon Community Center in Pagosa Springs. Call (970) 759-9716 for more information and/or questions.

The next Piedra River Workgroup meeting will be conducted at the Ross Aragon Community Center. For more information or if questions, call (970) 759.9716.

The next meeting of the Piedra River workgroup will be Tuesday, December 6th, 5:30-8:30pm, at Ross Aragon Community Center in Pagosa Springs. For more information, contact Tami Graham at (970) 759.9716 or www.tamigraham.com. 

Piedra River Protection Workgroup meeting at the Ross Aragon Community Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. For more information contact Temi Graham at (970) 759-9716 or www.temigraham.com.

Voters by a slim margin approved the creation of the La Plata Archuleta Water District, which aims to establish a rural water system where residents currently depend on wells or trucked-in water. The district covers primarily southeast La Plata County. 

Arguments for and against a rural domestic water system were presented to Pine River Rotary Club members on July 23. The district is needed because water wells in many part of the county depend on traditional flood irrigation for re-charge.

Residents of southeast La Plata County - who draw their drinking water from wells or truck it in - finally are getting the opportunity to vote on the formation of a potable-water system.