Brief by Marcia Darnell
San Luis Valley – May 2003 – Colorado Central Magazine
One Drop at a Time
It’s spring in the Valley, and the word is water. The Big Dump barely brushed the Big Empty, giving Alamosa only a couple of inches of snow, and even though the mountains got piles, we’re still not out of the (dry) woods. April 1 figures show the Rio Grande at about 50 percent of normal flow, and the Conejos River at 54 percent. The Rio Grande Water Users Association urges water users to unite, and is considering the formation of sub-districts for better management.
Meanwhile, Valley towns, including Blanca, have asked their residents to cut water use by 20 percent this year. Monte Vista has limited days and hours of irrigation, and imposed a series of escalating fines for violators. In addition, State Rep. John Salazar sponsored a bill passed by the House that will allow farmers to bank unused water. It’s not all bad news, though. Colorado started the year with a water credit on the Rio Grande Compact. And volunteers cleaned tons of debris out of an empty Homelake.
Nice-1-1
The six counties of the Valley have joined to create a successful E-9-1-1 program. Covering an area larger than several states, the program uses GPS technology to instantly tell dispatchers where a 911 call is coming from. Even if a victim is unable to speak, he or she can get help quickly. Plans are in place to add cell-phone location to the program.
Shifting Dunes
The U.S. Dept. of the Interior has taken over a 3,315-acre parcel once known as the White Ranch. Formerly owned by the Bureau of Reclamation, the property will become a wildlife refuge. Several lawsuits still stand in the path of the conversion of the Sand Dunes to a national park, but resolutions are in the works. Steve Chaney, superintendent of the dunes, said the closing on the Baca Ranch is expected in May or June.
Lynx, Part II
The second phase of the Dept. of Wildlife’s lynx rehabilitation program began in early April, with a male cat set free near Creede. The first phase released 51 animals, with 31 of them still tracked by DOW. Some have protested the release this year, saying the drought will mean less prey for the cats, and greater possibility of starvation. Mountain States Legal Foundation attempted to block the release, saying feds should do an environmental review of the program before proceeding.
Brief Briefs
Del Norte man Eugene Stewart won a 2003 Chevy Tracker on “The Price is Right.” He also scored a pool table and a year’s supply of Little Debbie cream cakes. Yum!
Dr. Tim Snyder, a school superintendent in the Valley who helped develop the Monte Vista Online Academy (see story in the October, 2001, edition), received the President’s Technology Award: Given by the American Association of School Administrators, the award acknowledges Snyder’s vision and leadership in using technology to educate.
The SLV Regional Airport now boasts the same level of security as JFK or DIA. Fortunately for local travelers, screening is much quicker than at those airports, due to the small volume of fliers. The Alamosa airport averages 600-800 passengers per month.
Derek Bolton, professional wheelchair tennis player, made the world cup team. The Alamosa man is ranked 19th in the world. The competition is slated for June 9-15 in Sopot, Poland.
The Alamosa school district got a $1.05 million grant from the state department of education. The money will fund summer education programs for remedial and gifted kids.