Byways' Exhibit at DIA

Created: 21 May 2018 21 May 2018

Pictures:  https://images.flydenver.com/A rt-at-DIA/Temporary-Exhibits/Colorado-Byways/

Press: https://www.flydenver.com/about

Exhibits:  https://www.flydenver.com/abou t/art_culture/temporary

A Travelling Treat Through the ‘Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways’ Exhibit at Denver International Airport

DENVER – May 14, 2018 – Denver International Airport (DEN) is proud to show off Colorado’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways in the newest art exhibit featuring breathtaking color photography of several unique, majestic and rare Colorado locations. The exhibit is located at the ‘Y-Juncture Gallery’ past the A-security checkpoint through October 2018.

Journey through the photographic collection to see such locations as Rattlesnake Arches Trail, the Steel Bridge on Phantom Canyon Road or the highest paved road in north America, to name a few.  The exhibit represents each of the byways located in 48 of Colorado’s 65 counties, 11 of which are nationally recognized for their outstanding scenic and historic attributions. Colorado has the most designated byways in the U.S. so this venturesome exhibit along highways and backroads reveals more than just suggested road trips. It’s a true Colorado experience.

See photos of the Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways exhibition at DEN.

About the Scenic Byways Program

Colorado’s Scenic Byways program is a statewide partnership intended to provide recreational, educational and economic benefits to Coloradans and visitors. This system of outstanding touring routes in Colorado affords the traveler interpretation and identification of key points of interest and services while providing for the protection of significant resources. The byways unite communities and the stories of their collective past.

For more information, visit www.coloradobyways.org or Colorado’s official tourism website at www.colorado.com

About DEN’s Arts Program

The DEN Arts Program administers the City and County of Denver’s “one percent for art” ordinance which enhances public places and features nearly 40 site-specific works including sculptures, murals and other installations. The pieces are displayed in outdoor landscapes, inside Jeppesen Terminal and on airport concourses, as well as in the train tunnels and on the train itself. In addition to its permanent art collection, DEN curates temporary exhibitions, collaborating with museums, cultural institutions and arts organizations to present the highest quality two- and three-dimensional work. For more information, visit www.flydenver.com/art.

Denver International Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the United States. With more than 61 million passengers traveling through the airport each year, DEN is one of the busiest airline hubs in the world’s largest aviation market. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $26 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

Emergency Management: A White Paper

Created: 21 May 2018 21 May 2018

Emergency Management: A White Paper outlining roles and responsibilities in a changing environment

The attached roundtable white paper was developed by a committee representing a host of differing disciplines in addition to emergency management.  This well developed read provides clarification and insight surrounding emergency management roles and responsibilities, program sustainability and a progressive look forward as EM efforts grow and expand.  Please share as appropriate.  Oz..

RGNF releases draft timber salvage decision

Created: 21 May 2018 21 May 2018

LA JARA, Colo., May 18, 2018 – Conejos Peak District Ranger Andrea Jones has released the final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision for the CP District-wide Salvage Project.

District Ranger Jones selected alternative 2 with some modifications. More than 330,000 acres were included in the analysis area on the west side of the district.

“My selection of modified alternative 2 will allow salvage of dead and dying spruce trees for commercial use and thinning trees near private land to help protect structures from wildland fire, while also protecting wildlife habitat,” said Jones.

Up to 14,000 acres of dead and dying spruce trees in beetle infested areas will be salvaged over a ten year period primarily for use as commercial sawtimber or house logs. Surveys will be conducted the first and third year after areas are harvested to determine stocking levels of the remaining trees. Tree seedlings grown from locally collected sources will be planted in those areas determined to not be fully stocked.

More than 2,500 acres of proposed salvage areas were excluded from tree harvest activity in order to protect key Canada lynx habitat. Another 410 acres proposed for salvage will be excluded near the state line with New Mexico to conserve habitat connectivity for elk, deer and other wildlife species.

Shaded fuel breaks on up to 1000 acres will be established by thinning and pruning trees within 400 feet of private property or 200 feet of administrative sites. These treatments will reduce fire behavior and intensity allowing for better opportunities for firefighters to engage fire near structures.

A 45-day objection period begins with the publication of the legal notice announcing the release of the final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision. Only those individuals and organizations that submitted previous comments on the proposed project may file objections. A 45-day resolution period follows the objection period with the intent to resolve issues expressed in the objections. If no resolution is reached, the responsible official (District Ranger Jones in this case) is provided direction from the reviewing official (Deputy Forest Supervisor Tom Malececk for this project) to go forward with, modify, or withdraw the decision.

The final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision for the CP District-wide Salvage Project may be viewed at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/landmanagement/projects.

For more information, contact Michael Tooley at the Conejos Peak Ranger District office at 719-274-8971.

Fire restrictions initiated on Forest Service and BLM lands

Created: 15 May 2018 15 May 2018

MONTE VISTA, Colo., May 15, 2018 – The Rio Grande National Forest and Bureau of Land Management’s San Luis Valley Field Office are initiating Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning May 21. The low snowpack and warm temperatures have created unusually dry conditions for this time of year in the foothills and mountains that surround the San Luis Valley.

Stage 1 fire restrictions prohibit:

1. All open fires, campfires, charcoal-fueled fires, or coal or wood burning stove fires unless in an established fire grate in a developed campground. Petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns or heating devices are allowed.

2. Smoking, unless within an enclosed vehicle or building, in a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

3. Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrestor properly installed, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A kept with the operator, and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches.

4. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame except when in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and in possession of a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of at least 2A.

As a reminder, the use of explosives and incendiary devices, including fireworks, are prohibited on all federal lands.

For more information contact the Rio Grande National Forest at 719-852-5941 or the San Luis Valley Field Office at 719-852-7074.

Weminuche Trail to be temporarily closed this summer for bridge replacement

Created: 11 May 2018 11 May 2018

CREEDE, Colo., May 11, 2018 - The Weminuche Trail, Forest Trail 818, will be intermittently closed to public use this summer to replace the bridge over Weminuche Creek. The trail and bridge are located in the Weminuche Wilderness south of Rio Grande Reservoir on Rio Grande National Forest’s Divide Ranger District.

The existing bridge is rotting and needs replacement. Additionally, there are several large beetle-killed spruce trees near the bridge that will need to be felled to ensure worker safety and protect the new bridge from damage.

Current plans are to close the Weminuche Trail to all public use on June 26 for hazard tree removal. The trail will then be closed only to livestock use from July 10 through July 15 while the Region 2 pack string packs bridge parts to the creek crossing.  Following delivery of the bridge parts, the trail will be closed once again to all public use from July 15 through July 31, as the old bridge is removed and the new one is constructed. Any changes to the closure dates will be posted on the Rio Grande National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande.

Non-mechanized and non-motorized tools and transportation will be used since the bridge is located in a designated wilderness area. The dead trees will be felled with explosives and the new bridge will be carried in piece by piece by livestock. The old bridge will also be removed with livestock. 

Hikers and equestrians may access the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from 30-Mile Campground by way of Squaw Creek Trail (Forest Trail 814). Those people wishing to reach the Rio Grande Pyramid from the Rio Grande National Forest should consider access by way of Ute Creek and West Ute Creek trails (Forest Trail 819 and 824).

For more information, contact the Divide Ranger District at 719-657-3321.