The San Luis Valley Outdoor Report for the week of March 18, 2026.
Paul Formisano, director of the Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center, is the latest guest on the Outdoor Citizen podcast.
He joins us to talk about his work at the center and to give us a look at the upcoming State of the Basin symposium. Formisano’s got his attention on water, much like we do, and the annual symposium is a good time to inform the community on what’s happened in the past year and to hear from experts on what to expect in the coming months.
It’s a gathering of the water minds.
Tune in here, or wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you enjoy.
OUTDOOR CONDITIONS
It’s official: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed that the 2025-2026 winter season was one of the hottest on record.
According to NOAA, Alamosa, Conejos and Rio Grande had their hottest winter on record. During the winter, Alamosa saw an average temperature of 29.9°F, 8.8°F hotter than the average of 21.1°F, making it the warmest in the 131-year record. Conejos had an average temperature of 28°F, 7.4°F hotter than the average. While Rio Grande had an average winter temperature of 27.4°F, 8.1°F hotter than the average.
According to NOAA’s analysis, the contiguous United States’ average temperature for the meteorological winter, December to February, was 37.1°F, 4.9°F above the 20th-century average, ranking as the second-warmest winter in the 131-year record. Nine states recorded their hottest winter on records, Colorado included.
February precipitation for the lower 48 was 1.37 inches, just 0.76 inch below the 20th-century average and the driest since 2002. The states received an average of 4.95 inches of precipitation during winter, 1.84 inches below the 20th-century average, ranking as the fifth-driest winter in the 131-year record.
According to the March 3 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 54.9 percent of the contiguous United States was in drought, an increase of about 10.4 percent from the beginning of February. Drought persisted across much of the Rockies and the eastern seaboard and expanded or intensified across portions of the northern Rockies, Plains, Mississippi Valley, South and Southeast.
Significant wildland fire potential is above average across a wide region including the southern Plains, the Gulf Coast and the Southeast, extending northward into Virginia. Much of eastern Colorado is in this zone for March. Some fire experts have expressed their anxieties over the upcoming summer and the potential for fires.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SIP N SCIENCE: WETLANDS
The last water topic in the Sip N Science series is Friday, March 27, where you can learn about the importance of wetlands here in the San Luis Valley. The event is at Del Norte’s Trade and Post, located at 578 Grande Ave.
Sip N Science in the SLV is a yearlong series designed to help the community learn about the natural systems that define the San Luis Valley. Each session focuses on a different environmental topic that directly affects life here.
Enjoy a drink and learn more about these natural resources, the locals who manage these resources, and how to get involved in our community. The mission: In collaboration with Trade and Post and the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, Sip N Science in the SLV is a series that brings science, stewardship, and connection together in a fun setting. Each quarter follows a new theme inspired by the four elements (water, air, fire, earth) and features local experts sharing the science and stories behind the natural resources that shape life in the San Luis Valley.
Events are donation-based and open to all. RSVP at sipandscience.eventbrite.com.
RIO GRANDE STATE OF THE BASIN
The Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium is Saturday, March 28, at the Adams State University campus. The symposium’s keynote speaker is Colorado-based journalist Ben Goldfarb, whose work has appeared in national publications including The New York Times, the New Yorker, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Orion Magazine and National Geographic. His books include “Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter” (2018) and “Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping Our Planet” (2023).
It is free to register to attend. Watch for registration information HERE.
MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR
MountainFilm on Tour is Thursday, April 16, at the Monte Vista Church Project. Stay tuned for more details. MountainFilm on Tour is a touring film festival that makes stops all over the world highlighting documentary films showing the strength and depth of the indomitable human spirit.
We’ll be talking with MountainFilm’s organizers on the next Creative Citizen podcast. Keep your eyes and ears out for that episode when it premiers later in March.
COLORADO E-BIKE RIDES
Join the Colorado E-Bike Shop in the heart of the San Luis Valley for the Dunes and Peaks Pedal, a one-of-a-kind e-bike adventure that showcases the wide-open beauty and bold landscapes surrounding Alamosa.
The ride will roll out from Cole Park in Alamosa on Saturday, May 2, at 8:30 a.m., heading into a morning filled with big skies, mountain views, and unforgettable scenery. This fully supported ride takes you across the Valley floor with stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, glimpses of the Great Sand Dunes, and the quiet, peaceful roads that make this part of Colorado so special.
Dunes and Peaks Pedal is designed to be approachable and fun, whether you’re an experienced rider or simply looking for a new way to explore. With the help of e-bikes, the landscape opens up to everyone, making the miles enjoyable and the views even sweeter.
Expect a relaxed, community-focused atmosphere, ride support along the route, and plenty of moments to take it all in. This isn’t a race, it’s a celebration of rural Colorado, fresh air, and experiencing the outdoors together.
Register for this ride here.
BIKE 2 BUILD
Mark your calendars for the 2026 Bike2Build. The San Luis Valley bike ride is Saturday, July 25. Hosted and supported by the San Luis Valley Habitat for Humanity, Bike2Build helps fund affordable housing in the community.
The ride will be hosting a Half Century 56-mile ride and a shorter 26-mile loop.
- Early Morning Check-In: 7:00-7:30 a.m., Alamosa Recreation Center
- Group Photo and Grand Start: 7:30 a.m.
- Cyclists depart together for a scenic journey through the heart of Alamosa County.
The Rides – Choose your challenge:
- Half Century (56 Miles): A rewarding distance for seasoned riders looking to soak in the expansive valley vistas.
- The 26-Mile Loop: A shorter, scenic option perfect for intermediate cyclists or those who want more time to explore downtown later.
Post-Ride Celebration:
- Enjoy a well-earned post-ride meal with fellow cyclists at the Recreation Center.
- After-Hours at the Brewery – Evening, Colorado Farm Brewery, a relaxing evening of live music.
Registration is open here. Please email any questions to bikes@slvhabitat.org.
OUTDOOR NEWS
TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM
800 fingerling-sized trout were released downstream last Thursday at Del Norte’s town park as part of a classroom education initiative called Trout in the Classroom. For weeks, six San Luis Valley classrooms operating eight fish tanks have been raising trout from eggs, learning everything from ethics to physics, chemistry and biology. Those classrooms got to release their trout into the Rio Grande during a community event led by the San Luis Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited. Alamosa Citizen was there to capture the baby trout graduation. READ MORE
KING MOUNTAIN PACK WOLF MATRIARCH DEAD
Gray Wolf 2310 was found dead on March 11. This breeding female wolf was the maternal member, or mother, of the King Mountain Pack. Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a mortality signal in northwest Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is leading the mortality investigation in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A final determination of the cause of death will not be made until the investigation is completed, including the necropsy, a foundational component of the overall investigation process. No additional details were released by CPW.
This wolf death now marks the 14th death since reintroduction began in 2023 and the third this year. The last death occurred in January when CPW was attempting to capture a breeding male from the King Mountain Pack. That wolf died from “complications” related to the capture.
IRRIGATION SEASON STARTS EARLY
An early start to the irrigation season in the San Luis Valley is coinciding with the arrival of spring’s first heat wave.
Craig Cotten, Division 3 engineer for Colorado Division of Water Resources, announced a staged approach to opening the water year for producers in the Upper Rio Grande Basin.
The water season began March 16 for surface and groundwater irrigators in the Conejos River area (Water District 22), the Culebra Creek area (Water District 24), the Trinchera Creek area (Water District 35) and the La Jara Creek area. The irrigation season will begin on March 23 for all surface and groundwater irrigation structures in the Rio Grande area (Water District 20).
“I decided to start the irrigation season earlier than the presumptive April 1 date for many valley areas due to the very warm, dry spring and the low current snowpack. We are already seeing an increase in streamflows due to the warmer weather, and it is beneficial for water rights holders to be able to use this water while it is available,” Cotten said in an email exchange with Alamosa Citizen.
This week could see record-setting temperatures leading up to the first day of spring. The forecast calls for midweek daytime highs in the low- to mid-70s. March has seen 21 of its days so far establish new record high temperatures since 2004, a heating trend that accentuates the warming winters and spring months. READ MORE
CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS WILDFIRE RESILIENCE CODE
The Alamosa City Council will take up adopting a wildfire resilience code during Wednesday’s meeting. The codes will affect local municipal buildings. A work session was held last week. The state is requiring cities to adopt its 2025 wildlife resiliency code by April 1. Alamosa is trying to figure out how the codes apply to new construction and exterior renovations of properties, and whether an expanded part of the city limits is subject to the wildfire code.
In order to meet the state-mandated requirement of having the wildfire code adopted by April, the city council will vote on the item at their regularly scheduled meetings on March 18 for first reading and April 1 for second reading. Both meetings will allow time for public comment.