All Entries in the "Environment" Category
From Prowers County Public Health and Environment: Update regarding the recent Pueblo wastewater spill
Arkansas River Advisory (Hwy 50 Area in Lamar) Water samples collected on September 1, 2026, from the Arkansas River near the Highway 50 area in Lamar revealed E. coli levels of 613.1 CFU/100mL. This significantly exceeds the public safety threshold of 235 CFU/100mL. The public is strictly advised to avoid all contact with the […]
CPW expands water contact advisory along Arkansas River after Pueblo sewage spill
PUEBLO, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is expanding its water contact advisory to 10 state wildlife areas and the Las Animas Fish Hatchery along the Arkansas River, asking visitors to avoid direct contact with the river and fisheries on those properties. The expansion comes as water affected by a 4.2-million-gallon untreated sewage spill continues moving downstream from Pueblo. The advisory issued […]
Southern Plains Land Trust’s Executive Director responds to recent vote by Bent County Commissioners which would allow electric transmission lines be constructed on Conservation Easement property
A herd of American Bison roam freely on Southern Plains Land Trust’s Heartland Ranch (photo courtesy of Southern Plains Land Trust) The residents of southeast Colorado have been very vocal in their opposition to plans for electric power transmission lines cutting through their farmlands and prairies. Recently, Prowers County residents cheered at the August 12 […]
Water contact advisory for John Martin Reservoir as Pueblo sewage spill moves downstream; arrival anticipated Monday
Sunset at John Martin Reservoir State Park, Aug 29. Park officials are in coordination with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife water resources staff as 4.2-million gallons of untreated sewage makes its way down the Arkansas River from Pueblo. The sewage is expected to reach the reservoir […]
4.25 million gallons of raw sewage taints Arkansas River after Pueblo city accident
Untreated sewage flowed through a stormwater pipe and into the Arkansas River in Pueblo after a patch to a concrete sewer plant pipe failed. The spill caused public health officials to warn people not to recreate on the river as far east as Las Animas through Aug. 31, 2026. (City of Pueblo Wastewater […]
Intermountain West Drought Persists Due to Heat and Lackluster Monsoon; Despite Short-Term Relief, Long-Term Water Crisis Continues
Key Points Record-breaking July temperatures and widespread severe conditions have left nearly 95% of the Intermountain West in drought, per the U.S. Drought Monitor. Isolated monsoon rains failed to provide meaningful, region-wide relief for water supply challenges. Major reservoirs across the Colorado River and Rio Grande Basins are reaching historic lows, triggering mandatory water […]
Fast-moving fires can scorch forests. They may never grow back, research finds
Shanna Lewis/KRCC Trees burned in the Aspen Acres wildfire, near Beulah. Aug. 9, 2026. Article via Colorado Public Radio written by Ishan Thakore Fast-moving wildfires have ripped through millions of acres of North American forests in the last decade. New research shows that those fires change landscapes so severely that forests may never grow back. Researchers at Western Colorado […]
Partners dedicate 2,500 acre-feet of FryArk water to Upper Ark recreation, fisheries in historic drought
A collaborative effort by the Bureau of Reclamation, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Colorado Water Trust will provide additional stream flow August through November in support of recreation and fisheries during a time of historic drought on the Upper Arkansas River. In this June photo, a […]
Localized blue-green algae advisory issued at John Martin Reservoir State Park
A localized blue-green algae advisory has been issued for waters in the west boat ramp cove at John Martin reservoir State Park. Guests should avoid skin contact with the water in this area until further notice. CPW Photo/Dan Kirmer HASTY, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises visitors to avoid direct skin contact with the water […]
Lamar Scouts BSA Troop 218 and Venture Crew 218 clean up North Gateway Ponds area
On Sunday, July 26, youth and adults from Lamar Scouts BSA Troop 218 and Venture Crew 218 did a clean up at North Gateway Ponds for the Scouting for Clean Waterways initiative. It was very hot, but in 40 minutes around 10 bags of trash were collected from in and around the swimming pond and […]
Dispute between CPW and Fort Lyon Canal Company could make sale of Tackle Box harder for Hasty couple
Ron and Karen Moreland own the Tackle Box fishing store in Hasty, which is on the market for $110,000. They say a dispute between Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Fort Lyon Canal Company that has closed public access to two reservoirs people fish in their region of southeastern Colorado could make it harder for […]
Bent Conservation District is recipient of a Colorado State Conservation Board Supplemental Matching Grant – helping to fund ten improvement projects
One of Bent Conservations District’s recent projects From Pastures to Pure Awesomeness! By Rachel Murphy, District Manager Bent Conservation District was thrilled to be awarded a Colorado State Conservation Board (CSCB) Supplemental Matching Grant in 2025, which helped fund ten range improvement projects within the district over the past year. The grant funds supported fence replacements […]
Colorado Ag Water Alliance hosting online irrigation scheduling webinar July 22
IRRIGATION SCHEDULING WEBINAR Wednesday, July 22, 2026 12:00 – 1:00 PM via Zoom If you have already registered, we look forward to seeing you at noon on Wednesday. If you plan to attend and have not registered, please visit the link below to receive the Zoom information. Colorado Cattlemen’s Ag Water NetWORK will host a webinar on […]
Lamar Utilities Board Chairman Thrall’s email to Lamar City Council prior to City Council decision to reject offer concerning returning ARPA funds in exchange for water discharge permit
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lamar Utilities Board Chairman Doug Thrall shared with The Prowers Journal the email he sent to the Lamar City Council, Mayor Crespin and City Administrator Hammes prior to the City Council meeting of July 13. At that meeting City Council voted to reject the LUB’s resolution offer. Greetings to All: As Chairman […]
Op Ed from Representative Ty Winter regarding town of Hartman’s water crisis
There has been a lot of attention paid of late to the Town of Hartman here in Southeast Colorado. The community made headlines earlier this year when the last remaining town trustees abruptly resigned following a physical altercation at a town meeting. The resignation of the last three trustees plunged the Town into paralysis. There […]
