Alamosa took in a couple of more inches of snow over the weekend to bring its snow total to 7 inches for the month. The critical Upper San Juans also got some snow accumulation, including 12 inches at Wolf Creek, and the Upper Rio Grande Basin is at 54 percent of the median for snowpack following the weekend storm. Here’s more:
1. Forecasting early spring runoff
Temperatures will be back on the rise, with daytime highs reaching into the 40s for the week. With January sitting at an average daytime temperature of 43.7 degrees, the snow doesn’t last for long in the lower elevations of the San Luis Valley. February a year ago averaged 52.8 degrees. If a warm February repeats itself in 2026, for sure watch for an early spring runoff for the Rio Grande and Conejos River basins.
2. The Valley Pod: Ag Conference preview
You can bet the warming San Luis Valley will be among the topics of conversations when the annual Southern Rocky Mountain Ag Conference happens Feb. 3-5 at the Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista. Larry Brown and Madeline Wilson from the CSU Extension Office and Heather Hillin, director of the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce, join The Valley Pod to preview this year’s ag conference.
3. SLV homeless count
La Puente’s street outreach team will conduct its annual Point in Time count on Tuesday, Jan. 27, which serves as a census of the homeless across the six-county San Luis Valley. “Our goal is to have a count that represents the population here,” said La Puente Executive Director Lance Cheslock. The figure is reported to the state and federal governments and serves as a baseline to determine funding for homeless programs. A year ago, the count showed 550 homeless across the Valley, including 130 homeless in Alamosa. La Puente is expecting a similar number in 2026.
4. Perfect Rio Frio
Mother Nature was right on time with the snow and cold that marked the weekend’s Rio Frio Ice Festival in Alamosa. Del Norte High’s Mads Kreutzer was the overall 5K winner in a field of 210 runners. Colorado Ice Works turned downtown Alamosa into a mini-Olympic Village with ice sculptures of figure skaters and a bobsled decorating Main Street. Photographer Dennis Schoendelder captured some of the scenes. Watch for more Monday on AlamosaCitizen.com
5. Sportswomen of Colorado recognize Tristian Spence
Tristian Spence, the NCAA DII national cross country champion running for Adams State, is being recognized by the Sportswomen of Colorado and its 52nd Awards Celebration. Spence was named the collegiate cross country athlete of the year by Sportswomen of Colorado and will be feted at the organization’s March 8 awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. Spence, a redshirt junior from Grand Junction, has won two NCAA DII titles so far in her career at Adams State – the 2025 NCAA DII cross country title and the 2025 NCAA DII outdoor 5,000 meters title.
6. Local candidates
Christina “Tina” Espinoza announced her candidacy for Alamosa County clerk and recorder. Espinoza and Jamie Greeman are two candidates seeking the office. Four current Alamosa County officials – Treasurer Amy McKinley, Assessor Jason Duncan, Sheriff Robert Jackson and County Commissioner Arlan Van Ry – also announced their re-election bids.
7. Ballot Initiative 95: Immigration enforcement
Coloradans will vote on a ballot initiative promoted by a group called “Advance Colorado” that calls for greater coordination between local law enforcement and federal authorities enforcing U.S. immigration laws. Ballot Initiative 95 has been certified by the Colorado Secretary of State. It looks to counter state laws that outline when and how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal authorities on immigration enforcement. Currently, law enforcement can cooperate with federal authorities in the execution of a judicial warrant but are prohibited from stopping, arresting or detaining individuals solely on civil immigration violations or ICE detainer requests.
8. On the agenda in La Jara
The La Jara town board is looking for public feedback on recreational marijuana dispensaries. La Jara will host a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29, to hear from residents. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Northerner’s Senior Center, 413 Main St., in La Jara.
9. State appointment for Gigi Dennis
The Colorado Aeronautical Board has added Monte Vista City Manager Gigi Dennis as a member. Dennis is a former state senator and served as Colorado secretary of state under then-Gov. Bill Owens. The state Aeronautical Board, with 10 members, oversees aviation development in Colorado.