According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), the state’s current mule deer population of around 450,000 is about 25{66eaadba41c14e7e553ffe7a4ee73fbae213b19704eda0514b3dd79e37e4c0c5} below their objective. Populations have been declining over the last several decades due to human population growth resulting in habitat loss and vehicle collisions, as well as other factors like climate change, malnutrition, diseases like chronic […]
If wolves were reintroduced in our state, would they benefit the environment or be a nuisance for ranchers? In spite of a 2016 resolution passed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife stating that wolves would not be purposefully reintroduced into the state (although those that wander here on their own won’t be removed), the debate continues. […]
Wondering what you can do to help reduce ozone and improve our summer air? The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have launched a new campaign that can help Coloradans take simple steps toward better summer air. In fact, that’s the name of the campaign and its new […]
May 6-12, 2018 is National Drinking Water Week. From lead to fluoride, from private wells to public water systems, there are many consumer issues related to the water you drink. If you are interested in learning about drinking water in Colorado, start with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Drinking Water: Consumer Information […]
It’s not a pleasant topic, but it’s certainly an important one for cities and towns to learn from. Exactly ten years ago, in March and April 2008, the city of Alamosa experienced a deadly Salmonella outbreak that caused at least 442 confirmed illnesses and, according to estimates, as many as 1,300 people – 15{66eaadba41c14e7e553ffe7a4ee73fbae213b19704eda0514b3dd79e37e4c0c5} of […]
Each year since 1979 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has produced an annual Colorado Air Quality Data Report. This report offers detailed data on Colorado air quality, including regional air quality data; pollutants exceeding recommended levels; data on specific pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter; […]
This is National Poison Prevention Week, and if you work in the agriculture industry, one of the poisons that you will most frequently encounter is pesticides. If you are someone who handles or administers pesticides, or are an employer of those who do so, here are some resources from the State of Colorado that provide […]
Here in Colorado we have a number of invasive species that are causing problems because they can harm the environment and put native species at risk. Colorado Parks & Wildlife defines invasive species as “plants, animals, insects or diseases that are not native to Colorado.” CP&W explains that “because they are not native to Colorado […]
January is National Radon Action Month and YOU should test your home for radon. It doesn’t matter whether you live in an old building or new construction; radon “can enter homes through cracks in the foundation or other openings and can accumulate unless properly mitigated,” says the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). […]
It’s that time of year when the holiday decorations are coming down, and the Colorado State University Extension reminds us that, if you had a live tree, it is now “bedraggled and has probably become a terrible fire hazard. It’s time to get it out of the house. Please don’t just put it out for […]
Uranium was discovered in southwestern Colorado in the late nineteenth century. It comes from carnotite ore, which also produces vanadium. When these elements were first mined, vanadium was considered to be the more valuable of the two; it was used as an alloy to strengthen steel. In 1921 the Colorado Geological Survey issued Radium, Uranium, […]
Summer is ozone season and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s ozone information page has everything you need to know about protecting your health as well as what you can do to help reduce local ozone levels. The page also includes a history of ozone in Colorado, with data and a timeline narrative […]
Bees are essential pollinators that ensure our being able to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers — yet bee populations have been decreasing over time. In response, beekeeping is steadily growing in popularity in Colorado, while many others are gardening with native plants to attract bees. If you are a beekeeper or are interested in becoming […]
On the plains of Colorado, grassland ecosystems provide habitats for many species of plants and animals. Yet increased human migration and development is causing the disappearance of much of the state’s historic grasslands. Some, however, have been protected, such as the Pawnee and Comanche National Grasslands, which draw visitors to experience nature and learn about […]
Pesticides and chemicals can have an unhealthy effect on groundwater, so the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have teamed up “to protect groundwater and the environment from impairment or degredation due to the improper use of agricultural chemicals while allowing their proper and correct […]
This week we’re only going back a decade, to 2007, but a lot has changed in ten years concerning today’s topic. A decade ago, the State of Colorado’s Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) issued a report entitled Public Opinions on Water Quality Issues, which you can read online courtesy of our library. The report contained […]
Beginning this year the State of Colorado has expanded its efforts to encourage consumers to “take back” their unwanted medications. Take-back programs help the environment by keeping unused pharmaceuticals out of the water supply and the landfills. Flushing or throwing away medications can harm wildlife and even get into our own drinking water supply. According […]
Leadville is one of Colorado’s most historic mountain towns. Though a small mountain town today, in the 1870s and 1880s Leadville rivaled Denver for the state’s most prestigious city and many millionaires were made through Leadville’s silver mines. Following the Crash of 1893, most of Leadville’s silver mines were abandoned, although other mining activities such […]
Starting tomorrow, Colorado residents can now collect rainwater to use on their gardens and lawns. Previously rain barrels were unlawful in Colorado due to complicated water rights and usage laws. However, due to the passage of HB16-1005, Coloradans may now store up to 110 gallons of rainwater in up to two rain barrels. For information […]
If you live in an older home, your water pipes may be made of lead, which is associated with significant health risks. In response to the Flint, Michigan controversy, Denver Water has been testing older homes and replacing lead pipes with copper (see news story). Other municipalities and water districts also have lead abatement programs […]
The first decades of the twentieth century were the height of the wilderness movement in the United States. Following the popularity of Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, and Frederick Jackson Turner’s 1893 declaration that the American frontier was closed, Americans gained a new interest in protecting wilderness areas, as well as exploring the past […]