By Shannon Lukens.
Slash piles will be burned in Moffat County sometime in late November, as weather allows. This is 65 miles west of Craig near Douglas Mountain and Juniper Mountain which is 25 miles west of Craig and about five miles southeast of Maybell. Smoke will be visible but the BLM asks that you not call 911.
CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to burn slash piles in Moffat County near Douglas Mountain and Juniper Mountain. Depending on snow accumulation and weather, slash pile burning could start in late November and continue through winter as conditions allow.
The Peterson and Holland piles are located 65 miles west of Craig near Douglas Mountain. The 269-acre project contains hand piles the BLM created in 2022 to reduce hazardous fuels. Smoke may be visible from the community of Greystone, Colorado Highway 318 and nearby county roads during burn operations.
The Juniper Mountain project is approximately 25 miles west of Craig and 5 miles southeast of Maybell. The 47-acre project contains hand piles created for hazardous fuels reduction and rangeland improvement for deer, elk and greater sage-grouse. Smoke may be visible from U.S. Highway 40 and nearby county roads during burn operations.
“We will only initiate the prescribed fire if conditions are ideal for a safe and effective burn as well as good smoke dispersal away from local communities,” said Brandon Voegtle, Assistant Fire Management Officer. “Burning the piles will remove hazardous fuels and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires near these project areas.”
The public is reminded to not call 911 or emergency services even though smoke may be visible. There are no expected road closures related to these burn operations.
Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health, for more information see www.colorado.gov/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.
For general information, email BLM_CO_LSFO_Web@blm.gov or call 970-826-5000.
More on the Story – Bureau of Land Management to burn slash piles in Moffat County
Elkins Meadows in Steamboat Springs is doing some wildfire mitigation in the Elkins Meadows Open Space. Slash piles will be burned when the weather permits, specifically when snow is falling, so you will see some smoke. Here’s more from the press release.
As a part of Elkins Meadow’s forest health and wildfire mitigation project work, burn piles were constructed in the Elkins Meadows Open Space. The piles are the result of an effort to reduce wildfire risk, and to promote species and age class diversity within the shared forested area, as well as to manage the significant amount of ground fuel build-up on the steep northwest facing slopes.
All appropriate permits have been applied for and approved by the City and the County. Ignitions will begin when the required weather conditions are relevant. In an effort to reduce potential disturbance, burning will be prioritized when snow is actively falling.
Outside Magazine has released a list of the 50 Best Places to Work in 2024. Landmark Consultants, Inc. of Steamboat Springs is ranked #3. They are a civil engineering and land surveying group in town. The article includes: “Perks: Full coverage of health insurance costs for employees and their dependents, a physical health benefit equivalent to a full Ikon ski pass, flexible, hybrid work schedules to encourage outdoor activities, team sponsorship for the STARS Mountain Challenge fundraiser, an annual summer camping trip, and a company ski day.”
Courtesy photo from Alterra
Alterra Mountain Company, which is the parent company of Steamboat ski area, has announced the closing of the purchase of Arapahoe Basin. A-Basin is open for the season, and part of the Ikon Pass.
From the press release: “Our community at Arapahoe Basin is special, and it’s something we deeply cherish and protect. The thrill of skiing the Pali, the tradition of hiking the East Wall, the magic of skinning to Moonlight Dinners, and the joy of sharing a chairlift ride with friends – all of these experiences define who we are and will always remain at the heart of A-Basin,” said Alan Henceroth, President & COO, Arapahoe Basin. “In 2019, we partnered with Alterra Mountain Company on Ikon Pass, knowing they respect and embrace everything that makes A-Basin unique. As we move forward, I am confident that the spirit of The Basin will not only remain but grow stronger than ever as we continue to work with leaders on the mountain on a 10-year master development plan to address parking, enhanced snowmaking, and improvements to the experience for skiers and riders of all skill levels.”
Over the last 27 years, A-Basin expanded the ski area to 1,428 acres, replaced all of the lifts and most of the buildings, and opened the two highest elevation restaurants in North America, Il Rifugio and Steilhang Hut. In 2018, A-Basin pledged to be carbon neutral by 2025 and recently the resort made a huge step toward that goal by officially using 100% renewable electricity.
Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District owns and operates Stagecoach and Yamcolo Reservoirs and directs many projects that conserve, protect, and enhance the region’s water resources. Help guide their future policies and initiatives by participating in the UYWCD Community Survey! If you received a survey in the mail, please be sure to complete the survey using the unique QR code on the mailer. If not, you can complete the survey at polco.us/upperyampa2024.
Hayden Town Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night. Elected officials will be taking office. Ryan Banks is Mayor. Council members are: Ryan Bell, Danny Hayden, Elaine Hicks, Camilla Haight, and Melinda Carlson. Council will nominate a Mayor Pro Tem for Hayden.
The group Steamboat Kids & Phones meets tonight to discuss a book called The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. It’s a New York Times best seller about “How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.” The meeting is free. It’s from 6:30-8 p.m. in Library Hall in Steamboat Springs.
Opera Steamboat has four new board members. They are Hilary Ginther, Solveig Olsen, Richard Spires, and Spencer Tamblyn.
Steamboat Mountain School has announced new merit scholarship opportunities starting next year. The three scholarships are available for boarding students who excel academically, for competitive Winter Sports Club athletes, and a Founder’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence for 9th graders. More information is at SteamboatMountainSchool.org
iFurnish in Steamboat Springs is spreading holiday cheer with the inaugural iFurnish Gingerbread Challenge. There are two categories: family and individual. The winner could get a $500 iFurnish gift card. Each entry needs to fit on an 18×18” base. Everything must be edible. Pick up an entry form at the iFurnish in Steamboat Springs or Kremmling before Nov. 27. Email it to Lex@ifurnishco.com Winners will be announced Dec. 7.
Vendors are wanted for the Christmas Craft and Vendor Show, Dec. 13-15, at Centennial Mall in Craig. Reach out to Dawn Bevel if you would like a spot. Her number is 970-714-1414, and email is ButterfliesAndCamo@gmail.com
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.