Ear to the ground:
“I always thought the revolution would come from us.”
– Ex-hippie baby boomer lamenting the political rise of Donald Trump
Getting Snagged
In case you’ve been out of the swim, the on-again off-again forecast for Dolores River is back on – at least for now. According to the latest from the Dolores Water Conservancy District, posted on its website Monday, heavy precipitation coupled with a slow start to the irrigation season has McPhee on track for a short but sweet spill. As of Wednesday, the reservoir was 11 feet from maximum capacity and is expected to hit the tipping point next week.
As a result, releases could ramp up next week causing the intermittent Dolores to rise from its watery grave. According to the DWCD, at the height of the release, flows will average around 1,000 cfs, likely starting over the Memorial weekend and continuing for five to 10 days.
The lower Dolores last had respectably boatable flows in the spring of 2011.
Go to www.doloreswater.com for updates. Lake elevation is updated daily at midnight.
Seeing orange
And speaking of rising from a watery grave, recent heavy rains around Silverton have led to the return of somewhat alarming hues high up in the Animas River drainage.
Around 4:20 p.m. Sun., May 15, an alert went out from EPA crews in Silverton that Cement Creek was flowing with an “orange tinge.” Such alerts are part of the Gold King Mine notification plan, put in place after last August’s disaster. Under the plan, river stakeholders are immediately notified via email of any sudden changes in the river.
This time, though, the finger couldn’t be pointed at Gold King Mine, where the water treatment plant was found to be functioning properly. Rather, the discoloration was noted about a mile downstream, after the creek passed through two natural iron bogs. The color dissipated at the creek’s confluence with the Animas.
The EPA said such episodes will likely be common during runoff and big storm events.
Residents can keep tabs on such things as pH levels and turbidity of Cement Creek as well as the Animas River (below Silverton and at Durango) via the USGS at: http://waterdata. usgs.gov/co/nwis/inventory.
Berning in the Burque
Seems Bernie Sanders has opened up shop in the Duke City in advance of New Mexico’s June 7 primary. He’s also scheduled to make appearances this Friday at rallies in Santa Fe and the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Bill Clinton is also slated to stump for wife, Hillary, in the Land of Enchantment, with visits next week to Española and Albuquerque.