4:58
Where Weld and Boulder Counties meet, it’s hard to see where one jurisdiction ends and another begins. It’s where Amanda Harper and her family live.
“West Weld County looks like eastern Boulder County, it’s spacious, there are homes with large farms, small farms, it’s a beautiful agricultural area.”
Harper and her family moved here because of the landscape, the chance to have a small farm, and the opportunity to live a rural, peaceful life.
“That’s how we wanted to raise our child in an agrarian situation with open spaces and clean air.”
But that peaceful rural life was suddenly interrupted 6 years ago when Harper learned that her idyllic farm house would soon be in the midst of an oil and gas development.
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5:09
Colorado saw its two largest forest fires in state history in 2020. This fall, the U.S. Drought Monitor classified the entire state as in drought. Colorado’s average temperature has risen by 2 degrees Celsius in recent decades. Scientists say all of these effects are caused by climate change.
While these statistics have an impact from an environmental standpoint, according to Hilary Cooper, they also affect the pocketbook of state and local governments.
“Our roads are deteriorating faster than they have in the past from extreme temperatures, and then of course the effects on our economy of extreme weather and especially drought conditions and the effects that that has on the ski area’s ability to operate and then also our farmers and ranchers.”
it s going to become a rescue scenario for us. we are going to have to be going in after them. reporter: the terrain has been completely redrawn through much of boulder counties. from where i m standing, this used to be the road. right in front of me, this is a new waterway t. stream used to be all the way over there. it used to be a small stream. can you see it s now a raging river. the road in front of the house was ironically called stream crest road. the new stream now surrounds his hom home. my son grew up here, i mean, it s so beautif. it s extraordinary to see