Stewards of the Land https://www.durangoherald.com/section/columnists-stewards-of-the-land/feed/ Stay informed with the latest breaking news, local stories, sports, business, weather, and community events from Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:03:49 -0600 en-us 30 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/kudos-to-all-those-who-kept-san-juan-mountains-association-going-in-2025/ Stephanie Webercca During the spring and summer, all of us at San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) stood alongside our federal colleagues as they withstood the uncertainty of layoffs or made agonizing decisions to voluntarily take an off ramp from their... Sat, 13 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0700 B87BDBD0-5AA9-4DAC-98EA-CBC02DDE5A9F https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/what-to-expect-on-public-lands-during-the-shutdown/ Stephanie Webercca Anyone working for the federal government – or as its partner – knows that no two shutdowns are alike. This particular shutdown has even the most tenured federal employees scratching their heads. Land managers have been given a... Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:30:00 -0600 7FC334D9-0A3B-405B-AAAF-45393928E5FD https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/sit-spot-in-the-ponderosa/ Mount Sneffels is visible from the Top of the Pines recreation area near Ridgway. (Courtesy) It was mid-day at 8,500 feet amid the Ponderosa and Oak scrub of Top of the Pines Preserve outside Ridgway. The grasses, dried and aromatic,... Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:33:11 -0600 C874589B-133A-40C5-AD2A-77524B3E4075 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-power-of-collaboration/ Improved Junction Creek trailhead parking area is tied to collaborative goals. (Courtesy photo) The verb collaborate is “to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.” Collaboration, the noun, might need a subdefinition of; messy, slow, argumentative,... Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:38:01 -0600 3704CB7F-0737-4108-9773-2F9370DEED20 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/stewardship-helps-promote-healthy-ecosystems/ SJMA Alpine Ambassador, Adela Pizarro Conte, provides updates on conditions and provides an overview of the Alpine Loop to some of the many visitors she encounters at Animas Forks during summer weekends. (Courtesy of SJMA) We are coming out of... Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:50:12 -0600 9EF67D8D-A4E4-435D-87C8-B4C549AB5B12 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/if-not-you-then-who/ Alpine Loop Ambassadors Adela Pizarro-Conte and Myste French clean burned trash out of a fire ring at a BLM designated campsite in Eureka Gulch. (Courtesy of Myste French) Memorial Day has come and gone, and the San Juan Mountains Association... Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:12:00 -0600 4C17BFDA-3B61-4202-B8C3-769DEA84DB6D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/shop-local-to-support-your-public-lands/ SJMA's Visitor Information Director, J Burnite, using some of the many products offered at our retail outlets to answer visitor questions. (Courtesy) The month of May in Southwest Colorado reveals some of the most celebrated characteristics of spring – blooming... Wed, 07 May 2025 17:30:28 -0600 07970EB0-0E29-4587-838F-31C84ABEB626 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/you-have-the-power-to-help-our-public-lands/ San Juan Mountain Association volunteer conducts light trail maintenance along the Colorado Trail, Segment 25.1. (Courtesy of San Juan Mountain Association) Here in the San Juan Mountains, we have an amazing community of public lands supporters from all walks of... Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:28:32 -0600 F64610A3-9351-441B-B3B4-0370182111C4 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/the-magic-is-always-there/ SJMA's Snow Ambassador, Colin Courtney, stationed at Andrews Lake Winter Parking Area. (Courtesy of Colin Courtney) Winter seems to come and go in lower elevation communities like Durango and Cortez, but our snowpack (although low for the year) at Andrews... Wed, 05 Mar 2025 15:29:47 -0700 B4EEDCE7-2A45-43BF-A6F2-CA102520B2BC https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation-succeeds-through-a-collaborative-approach/ As we have all recently witnessed, it is never too soon to discuss wildfire preparedness and mitigation. Whether it is through one of the regional forest collaboratives, a home ignition zone evaluation or a planning meeting with an HOA, living... Fri, 07 Feb 2025 18:43:13 -0700 17FE09F8-ABAB-4EE9-B2B9-2272FF13983C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/a-day-in-the-life-behind-the-scenes-of-a-field-trip-adventure/ San Juan Mountain Assocation spring break campers settle in for a lunch break. (Courtesy of SJMA) Imagine stepping into a snow-covered forest, where every tree whispers stories of resilience, and the crunch of snowshoes underfoot is the only sound breaking... Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:51:20 -0700 F4944EC6-7992-4E5C-BE29-8B16E6F39AFC https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/change-is-constant/ “The only constant in life is change.” This quote, attributed to Heraclitus, comes up frequently in conversations with San Juan Mountains Association’s staff members. As cliché as it is, it is also profoundly true for this organization. As I reflect... Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:39:31 -0700 9CF69BF1-B2ED-4736-8A1E-E58410419978 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/san-juan-mountains-associations-annual-fundraiser-christmas-trees-for-conservation/ Volunteers helping at San Juan Mountain Association’s Christmas Trees for Conversation Lot. (Courtesy of SJMA) I got the first text from a friend to go skiing on Oct. 21 this year. Safe to say with this early cold snap, we’re... Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:18:27 -0700 67C2361B-C28B-4F34-A10C-0F72503B4432 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/protecting-the-heart-of-colorados-high-alpine-wilderness/ On the Alpine Loop just north of Eureka townsite on September 2024 (Aubrey Balcom/San Juan Mountain Association) The Alpine Loop, a rugged byway winding through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, is renowned for its stunning vistas, rugged terrain, and remote beauty.... Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:47:34 -0600 46D6818F-2D68-476F-B99B-0D3795C36DFF https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/securing-san-juan-stewards/ Back to school is similar to back to stewardship. The San Juan Mountain Assocation will be hard at work now in the fall season. (Courtney Lane/SJMA) With school back in action, and students returning to classrooms for the fall semester,... Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:28:08 -0600 FB9BE28E-39D4-4CEE-8B56-B89EFB801D66 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/erosion-the-power-of-water/ A raging river has the opportunity to carve landscapes using the power of erosion. (Courtesy of John Washburn) Wherever you are from, I’m sure you’ve had out-of-towners ask you, “Is this weather normal?” Here in the San Juan Mountains, the... Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:02:37 -0600 A42EC1F1-0A1C-4439-8CE0-1232295D0A2A https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/include-contingencies-in-your-recreation-plans/ San Juan Mountain Association staff members reach out to visitors at Animas Forks, along the Alpine Loop. (Courtesy Savannah Remmish) Ahhh, summer in the San Juan Mountains. I’ve lived all over the country, and there really is no better place... Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:31:49 -0600 DFF0AAAC-CA42-4B23-8CE3-8E851C0A6C09 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/stewardship-is-for-all-a-small-gesture-can-go-a-long-way/ SJMA Forest Ambassador removing trash and debris from a popular campsite. One person can make a difference. (Courtesy SJMA) Looking back, the last few weeks were a blur. I am not sure where the month of May went, but June... Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:15:00 -0600 14E2B665-12C7-492D-AEC6-359DF210DD58 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/day-in-the-life-of-sjma-volunteer-trail-ambassador/ San Juan Mountain Association’s Ice Lake Trailhead Educational Basecamp (Courtesy of Marly Saunders) A group of eight people walked up to us from the parking lot – kids and parents – with a small backpacks, wearing tennis shoes and holding... Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 -0600 A50D2CA5-CDF7-4971-8133-6D43014A8CAB https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/creating-more-stewards-of-the-lands-through-sjmas-visitor-centers/ As a conversation starter, often visitors or folks who have recently moved here ask “Where are you from?” or “How long have you been here?” I respond with a confident “I grew up here.” So when I came to interview... Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0600 6A6C92A7-F73D-40B6-B5F5-3814CF8AF725 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/winter-escapades-embracing-a-versatile-winter-wonderland/ SJMA Snow Ambassador, Colin Courtney, at Andrews Lake Winter Parking Area. (Courtesy of Meghann Burke) As winter blankets the landscape with its pristine coat of snow, adventurers of all kinds eagerly await the opportunity to delve into the snowy wonderlands.... Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:23:12 -0600 EA67C62D-2483-4A38-8B82-BFDF93623FAC https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/spreading-outdoor-education-throughout-the-four-corners/ SJMA's 4th Grade Winter School Program(Courtesy of Rachael Taylor) As we zoom into February, San Juan Mountains Association’s education team has donned winter gear and snowshoes to continue our programs among the snowy landscape. Some highlights for our educators include... Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0700 C77732E4-0855-48C1-B414-7E2F09CBF0DB https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/stewardship-doesnt-sleep/ Meghann Burke (Courtesy) Although it has been a late start to winter, snowflakes have finally started flying across the San Juan Mountains, and San Juan Mountains Association’s winter stewardship and education programs have launched as well. No hibernation for the... Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:27:07 -0700 420B5278-C15E-4E9A-8323-CF6CB216566B https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/being-well-prepared-is-integral-to-sjmas-success/ During a week in late July, it dawned on me that even if I could carve out a full week to venture away from my desk to see the SJMA staff in action, I could not actually get to all... Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:10:56 -0700 C4C3FD36-B06C-4DF8-B17C-2728ED20C157 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/were-stronger-together-its-not-just-a-cliche/ Stephanie Weber (Courtesy) It’s that time of year when, like many of you, I find myself reflecting on the year. It’s been an incredible year at San Juan Mountains Association – not only for accomplishments but also transitions, some of... Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:28:14 -0700 CB92ABF8-F75E-41C3-AC2B-12FAB28DEF7F https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/caring-for-the-land-a-reciprocal-relationship/ Forest Ambassador Myste French takes a break at Lower Blue Lakes in the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness. (Courtesy photo) This morning, work begins where I made camp. I arrived after dark last night and didn’t notice the trash strewn about the... Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:10:36 -0600 C3B46F73-866D-440C-AC9A-F573D2E9C310 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/colorados-beauty-is-for-everyone-to-enjoy-a-trip-on-the-trail/ (Courtesy) On the heels of a thoroughly ground-soaking rain at the Nature Center last week, a group of energetic boys from Ignacio and I slipped and slid down the Rattlesnake Ramble trail. Comments like, “When’s lunch time?,” “My shoes are... Sat, 09 Sep 2023 15:08:51 -0600 9789CFAC-6D88-4BE0-8B94-97870E1DB8A4 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/a-sawyers-perspective-i-see-more-tree-than-faces/ (Courtesy of SJMA) Dawn breaks. Squinting and rolling awake, I rise quickly. A coyote yowls, calling out to its pack, sounding like a rooster to my ears. The backcountry morning bites at me as I crawl out of my bag... Sat, 12 Aug 2023 17:18:48 -0600 CC05570E-36C4-4EF9-AC85-975EA7D25C4D https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/collaborations-initiatives-working-for-health-of-public-lands/ Nearly three years ago, in October 2020, Gov. Jared Polis signed executive Order B 2020-008 creating the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative. The goals of the RPI are pretty straightforward: 1. Ensure that Colorado’s land, water and wildlife thrive while... Sat, 15 Jul 2023 17:28:57 -0600 54A1EB07-E20C-4D0A-B5B2-DFDEBED0F708 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/stewardship-programs-throughout-the-san-juans/ Mike Wight As the rivers continue to carry our snowmelt downstream, and the high country begins to open up, I’m finally getting a second to reflect on a busy couple of months hiring, training and preparing for San Juan Mountain... Sat, 10 Jun 2023 16:44:25 -0600 6F82EB3F-80CE-4649-8962-699BCA0C9654