Transitional housing gets efficiency boost

Five formerly homeless families in Durango have transitioned into energy efficient homes, thanks to a $35,000 grant awarded by Energy Outreach Colorado to Housing Solutions for the Southwest.

The grant, which was funded by Atmos Energy last December, paid for energy upgrades to Homeward Bound, a five-unit transitional housing complex operated by Housing Solutions. Upgrades included a new boiler and hot water heater, increased crawl space and attic insulation, and low-flow showerheads and aerators.

“The grant was a lifesaver for helping us better transition homeless families into a more stable situation, especially since our old boiler had failed just weeks before,” said Lora Sholes, transitional housing manager at Housing Solutions. “We are so incredibly grateful for the grant.”

Once a family moves into Homeward Bound, they receive information about how to manage energy costs along with other intensive case management. The goal is to help them move into permanent affordable housing after two years.  

“Our whole community benefits when families can remain safe and warm in a stable home,” Sholes said, noting that the success rate for their program is about 95 percent.

Housing Solutions for the Southwest provides a wide array of housing services including emergency homeless prevention, transitional housing and homeowner rehabilitation. For many families in Southwest Colorado, the organization is the only option to get back on their feet.  

Study predicts rising snow lines

The ski industry is getting more sobering news from the science community. A new report from the National Wildlife Federation says global warming is part of the reason for the unusual winter weather in the West. Climate scientist and report author Amanda Staudt says powder enthusiasts should be especially concerned.

“Aspen Mountain could see a 2,400-foot rise in the snow line, which is as far as the snowpack extends down the mountain,” she said. “And if that happens, many of the base areas at that mountain won’t even have any snow.”

A recent report in the journal Science explained that water vapor in the atmosphere plays a role in global warming. It may intensify, or sometimes moderate, the heating effects of carbon pollution. Staudt concluded that the analysis of weather trends underscores the importance of cutting carbon pollution that has been connected to warmer global temperatures. She added that despite the severe winter, 2009 was the second warmest year on record for the world, according to NASA.

City connects Animas River Trail dots

A missing link is taking shape on the Animas River Trail. The City of Durango has begun construction on the portion of the hard surface trail between the Durango Mall and the La Plata County Humane Society.

The ¼-mile trail project includes a 250-foot pedestrian bridge over the Animas River and will connect the south end of the existing portion of the Animas River Trail behind the Durango Mall to the section of the existing trail south of the Highway 160/550 bridge. Construction of this section of trail is anticipated to be completed this spring

The City has also contracted with local engineer, Rich Vick, to provide design and engineering services for the portion of the Animas River Trail to the north of the Durango Mall. Upon com

The completion of the these two projects will provide approximately 6.75 miles of continuous Animas River Trail between Memorial Park at 29th Street and Dallabetta Park at River Road.

Spring flood predicted to be average

Despite Durango’s epic winter, spring run-off is expected to be at or near normal, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction. Last Friday, the NWS released numbers for the 2010 spring runoff potential, which was low for most of Western Colorado. Most of the state’s river basins are currently reporting snowpack levels around 20 percent below average.

The one bright spot for Colorado this winter was the San Juan Mountains, which are at or slightly above normal.  Curiously enough, Southeast Utah came out the big winner, with the Abajo Mountains, near Monticello, boasting a hefty 130 percent of normal.

In general, runoff will mirror these numbers this spring and this summer. The spring flood is expected to range between 70-90 percent of normal over much of the upper Colorado River and its tributaries in Central and Northern Colorado. Runoff is expected to range from 90-110 percent of normal in the

Upper San Juan River and its tributaries. April - July unregulated flows into Lake Powell are expected to be only 65-70 percent of normal.

However, the Weather Service emphasized that in most years, snow accumulates in the mountains well into April. Furthermore, late season snow and/or rain or unseasonably warm temperatures can affect total runoff volume and quickly spike flows.

Current snow-water equivalent percentages for Western Colorado for October 2009 - March 5, 2010, are as follows:

-Colorado River basin above Lake Powell 81

-Yampa/White 75

-Upper Colorado Headwaters 76

-Gunnison 94

-Dolores/San Miguel 101

-San Juan Headwaters 104

-Animas 95

The short-term, March – April, climate outlook calls for a slight chance of above-normal precipitation over much of the Upper Colorado River Basin and near normal temperatures.

– Will Sands and Missy Votel