Western Slope

Montrose Commissioner Pond: Why I’m Drawing the Line and Standing Against Federal Land Grabs

Top Stories, Commentary, Local, National, Rocky Mountain Voice / / , , , , , , , ,

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent an official action or position of the Montrose Board of County Commissioners.

I was appointed to represent the people of District 3 in Montrose County, and I took an oath to uphold the Constitution. That includes defending our land, our rights, and our way of life here in Western Colorado.

In recent months, there’s been a coordinated push to place more of Colorado under federal control. We already fought back against the proposed Dolores National Monument, a 500,000-acre land grab, and we won. 

Then came a 68,000 acre National Conservation Area proposal in Mesa and Montrose Counties. We stood our ground again and stopped it. 

But now we’re facing two more massive federal designations.

Montrose Commissioner Pond: Why I’m Drawing the Line and Standing Against Federal Land Grabs Read More »

Multiple wolf attacks hit Western Slope ranchers—CPW accused of broken promises

The Colorado Sun, Approved, Local / / , , , , , , ,

Ranchers are calling multiple wolf attacks on cattle over Memorial Day weekend in Pitkin County “devastating” and evidence Colorado Parks and Wildlife is failing to keep its promise to alert ranchers when wolves are in range of their livestock.  

The attacks occurred over three days on the Crystal River Ranch, in the Crystal River Valley, and on the Lost Marbles and McCabe ranches, in the Roaring Fork Valley.

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Western Slope pushes $99M deal for historic Shoshone water rights—Front Range says not so fast

The Colorado Sun, Approved, State / / , , , , ,

Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs and Northern Water voiced opposition Wednesday to the Western Slope’s proposal to spend $99 million to buy historic water rights on the Colorado River from Xcel Energy.

The Colorado River Water Conservation District has been working for years to buy the water rights tied to Shoshone Power Plant, a small, easy-to-miss hydropower plant off Interstate 70 east of Glenwood Springs. The highly coveted water rights are some of the largest and oldest on the Colorado River in Colorado.

Western Slope pushes $99M deal for historic Shoshone water rights—Front Range says not so fast Read More »

Wolf reintroduction strains rural Colorado as payouts outpace budget

Westword, Approved, State / / , , , , ,

Colorado is eighteen months into the state’s wolf restoration project, and the teeth are still coming out.

So far, the state has paid over $370,000 in claims to ranchers who have been impacted by the presence of wolves near their operations. Although wolf advocates and detractors both agree that Colorado should compensate people for wolf-related losses, ranchers believe the funds are not enough to cover the full breadth of the impact of the carnivores in this state. Conversely, wildlife advocates question if some of the reimbursements that ranchers have claimed are a good use of taxpayer money.

Wolf reintroduction strains rural Colorado as payouts outpace budget Read More »

Nearly 10 pounds of fentanyl powder seized in drug trafficking operation on Colorado’s Western Slope

CBS Colorado, Approved, Local, Western Slope / / , ,

Seven people have been arrested, accused in a drug trafficking operation in Garfield County on Colorado’s Western Slope. According to investigators, approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, three ounces of cocaine, nine-and-a-half pounds of fentanyl powder, and approximately 220 fentanyl pills, along with a firearm, were seized.

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Colorado ranchers and commissioners urge halt on wolf ballot measure, seek better management plan from state

State, Approved, coloradopolitics.com / / ,

While they might agree on the problem, a group of Western Slope county commissioners and agricultural groups are asking proponents of a ballot measure to repeal Proposition 114, which allowed the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado, to back off.

Colorado ranchers and commissioners urge halt on wolf ballot measure, seek better management plan from state Read More »

Mesa County Commissioner advocates for fair share of transportation dollars

Top Stories, Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice / / , ,

With an ever shrinking budget, and an ever increasing demand for state money for road repairs and construction due to increasing population and use on the Western Slope, Mesa County Commissioner, Bobbie Daniels went to the state legislature to put a spotlight on the needs of western Colorado.

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Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy

Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State / / ,

Jump started in the past year by Gov. Jared Polis’ clean energy mandate and the imminent closing of the Craig Station Power Station, local governments have been studying new technologies — such as small modular nuclear generation and technologies that allow spent nuclear fuel to be recycled and repurposed.

Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy Read More »