Fall is arriving triumphantly as it typically does in the Great San Luis Valley. Brisk mornings coupled with daytime high temperatures in the low 70s to high 60s that turn into cool evenings is what it’s all about this time of year. The first day of fall is Sunday, Sept. 22. More below for your Monday:
1. Struggles of the unconfined aquifer
It’s typically in September that the unconfined aquifer of the Upper Rio Grande Basin registers its annual low storage mark, which is another reason why the August reading that showed the troubled aquifer near its lowest point is so alarming. ”It is very concerning, especially given that Subdistrict #1, under its current plan, has just seven more years in which to recover the unconfined aquifer to a sustainable level,” said Craig Cotten, division engineer for the Colorado Division of Water Resources. “If the aquifer has not recovered by then, and if the subdistrict is still operating under its current Groundwater Management Plan, then the state engineer will have no choice but to curtail all of the non-exempt wells in this area. That would result in the shutting down of nearly 2,000 irrigation wells in one of the most productive irrigated farming areas of the state.” Cotten’s response is part of a series of answers to questions The Citizen posed to the Colorado Division of Water Resources and Rio Grande Water Conservation District on the unconfined aquifer. We’ll explain more in the coming week.
2. Cleave Simpson’s re-election bid
As is typical, it’s a thoughtful Cleave Simpson who talks about his campaign for re-election to the Colorado State Senate in this episode of The Valley Pod. With seven weeks and counting to election day, Simpson sounds off on ways to lower Colorado’s cost-of-living through examination of the state government’s reliance on state enterprise funds, and his ongoing mission to ensure the relevance, resilience and health of rural Colorado. “I’m convinced and committed that I can make a difference at the Colorado General Assembly and closing that gap between rural Colorado and Front Range interests, whether it’s in economic development or whether natural resources and water. … I routinely say trying to keep rural Colorado just relevant in this conversation is important and that’s always been my entire focus.”
3. Running for county commissioner
One of the most important and influential elected positions in local government is serving as a county commissioner. To that end, Alamosa Citizen sent a questionnaire to candidates running for county commissioner seats in the six counties of the San Luis Valley. We’ll publish those responses this coming weekend on AlamosaCitizen.com. It’s part of our ongoing effort to provide as much information as we can on local candidates running for office. The Citizen election section also has this QA with congressional candidates Adams Frisch and Jeff Hurd. We’ll add more election information in the coming weeks, including profiles on candidates, and on Tuesday, Oct. 1, The Citizen will host a final VOTO SLV community forum in partnership with Shooting Stars Cultural & Leadership Center in Alamosa.
4. Targeting homeless
The Alamosa City Council will take up an ordinance this week that addresses “nuisance behavior” that would apply to all citizens regardless of housing status, according to City Manager Heather Sanchez. Taking a page from the city of Durango, Alamosa will consider adopting an ordinance that prohibits sitting, kneeling, reclining, or lying down in public areas in the city. The proposed law also removes the requirement that shelter or campground space be available before citing someone for unauthorized camping on public property. The restrictions do not prohibit panhandling or loitering. The city council is torn on whether to close St. Benedict Homeless Camp and put in place this new law to crack down on homeless on the streets. City councilor Mike Carson talks about it in this episode of The Valley Pod. The city council meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
EDITORS NOTE: This item has been edited to accurately reflect the nature of the ordinance under consideration.
5. Significance of Mt. Emmons land exchange
The Rio Grande National Forest land base increased by 321 acres as a result of the recently announced land exchange between Mt. Emmons Mining Company and the U.S. Forest Service. For the Valley it should mean more wildlife habitat and possible recreation. In total the forest service exchanged 539 acres of federal land located adjacent to the Keystone Mine for 625 acres of land owned by Mt. Emmons and located within the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest. Full story here.
6. Passing of Frank Muniz
The Alamosa Veterans Memorial Park Project is happening because of Frank Muniz. The Vietnam War veteran made Alamosa his adopted hometown when he arrived to serve as Veterans Service Officer for Alamosa County and spent 19 years in the position before retiring in 2021. His work of passion was serving veterans and seeing to it that the Alamosa Veterans Memorial Park got built. You can see progress of the park off Highway 285 and Airport Road. As you see it being created and when it opens, think of Muniz and his service to Alamosa County, veterans residing in the San Luis Valley, and his commitment to the project. He’d be pleased to know so many cared. May he RIP. Here’s a look back at his life.
7. ASU Hispanic Heritage
Thomas Valles, whose story as a high school runner was made famous through the Disney film “McFarland USA,” will be a guest speaker at Adams State’s Richardson Hall on Monday as part of a kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month. Valles, now girls cross country coach at his alma mater of McFarland High, CA, also serves as a motivational speaker and will deliver his message beginning at 5:30 p.m.
8. Citizen Football Scoreboard
Centauri remained unbeaten, and Monte Vista got its second win in a row. Del Norte forfeited its game against Roaring Fork. Here’s how the Valley schools fared on the gridiron over the weekend:
Centauri 19, Buena Vista 13
Monte Vista 43, North Fork 20
Sierra Grande 63, Kiowa 18
Pueblo Central 43, Alamosa 0
Cedaredge 52, Center 12
Haxtun 60, Sanford 0
Hoehne 62, Sargent 0
Roaring Fork win by forfeit over Del Norte
UT Permian 67, Adams State 14
A list of games for this week:
Sept. 20
Class A-6 Man
Sierra Grande at Antonito, 3 p.m.
Class A-8 Man
Custer County at Sargent, 7 p.m.
Fowler at Sanford, 7 p.m.
Class 1A
Del Norte at Cedaredge, 3:30 p.m.
Center at Ellicott, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Alamosa at Delta, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21
Class A-8 Man
Sangre de Cristo at Dove Creek, 1 p.m.