The Ice Lakes area in the San Juan Mountains will remain closed through Sept. 15 due to hazards after the Ice Fire burned through the area in October 2020.
Seasonal roads opening on the San Juan National Forest durangoherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from durangoherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lemon Reservoir winter recreation parking area relocated and expanded
Durango, Colorado Currently Mon 1% chance of precipitation
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 1:31 PM
Toggle font size Escuchar en Español:
Loading the Español audio player.
The parking area for winter recreationists near Lemon Reservoir on the Columbine Ranger District has been relocated and expanded.
The new parking area is located past Lemon Quarry on East Florida Road (Forest Service Road 597) at about milepost 0.5. This larger parking area will better accommodate increased winter use by snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. The road will be plowed by La Plata County, though some delays in plowing can be expected after heavy storms as the quarry is not located on a primary road system.
Mineral Creek to be focus of extensive watershed study
Durango, Colorado Currently Tue 23% chance of precipitation 54% chance of precipitation 53% chance of precipitation 66% chance of precipitation
Facing extreme pressure in recent years, waterway near Silverton will be examined
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 5:03 AM
Mineral Creek to be focus of extensive watershed study Mineral Creek, a popular place for outdoor recreation, will be the focal point of a watershed assessment conducted by the U.S. Forest Service this summer. Courtesy of Ray Dileo
Toggle font size
The U.S. Forest Service this summer will launch an extensive study of the Mineral Creek watershed west of Silverton, an area that has been bombarded in recent years with campers and hikers headed up the Ice Lakes Trail.
Five environmental issues to watch in 2021
Durango, Colorado Currently Thu 50% chance of precipitation 73% chance of precipitation 5% chance of precipitation
Drought, overuse of public lands, mine cleanup top list in Southwest Colorado
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 5:03 AM Updated: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 6:50 PM Kerry Guy, on-scene coordinator with the Environmental Protection Agency, stands inside the Red & Bonita Mine north of Silverton. The EPA closed the bulkhead at the mine to evaluate whether a permanent closure is a long-term option. 2020 marked the five-year anniversary of the Gold King Mine Spill, which released 3 million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River. It is expected the agency will start cleanup projects to improve water quality in 2021.