Water - The Durango Herald

Coloradans worried about water, wildfires and cost of living, new poll shows

Telephone and online interview polled 3,440 residents of eight Mountain West states

DATE: Feb 18, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

What is the ‘water year’ in Colorado, and why should we care?

Initiative encourages Coloradans to take a more active role in conservation and management

DATE: Feb 10, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado River Basin’s water forecast looked good in January; now everything has changed

Data collected from sensors recorded near- or record-low snowfall during last three weeks of January

DATE: Feb 9, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Tired of mowing your lawn? Colorado could pay you $2 a square foot to rip it out

A bill would expand grass buyouts statewide and double local payments

DATE: Feb 9, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

As snowmaking becomes more common, some question the use of energy and water

Ski resorts have invested millions in more efficient snow guns DENVER – The sight can be jarring during extreme drought: snowmaking guns lined up on a mountainside, blasting precious crystal...

DATE: Jan 25, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Water tracks better than last year as managers debate conservation measures

State is considering a program to reduce consumption, but Southwest Colorado has yet to weigh in

DATE: Jan 20, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Nebraska announces $500M plan to claim water from Colorado

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts announced a $500 million plan Monday to divert water out of Colorado under a 99-year-old compact between the states that allows Nebraska to seize ...

DATE: Jan 10, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Mesa Verde National Park sees beavers as a restoration tool

The ‘ecological engineers’ are key to enhancing riparian waters along Mancos River

DATE: Jan 6, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

What will a new year bring to Southwest Colorado?

A new fire station? An end to drought? Here are a few things sure to make news in 2022

DATE: Jan 1, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

50% increase in water, sewer rates approved for some Bayfield-area residents

Town official says it costs more to provide services to out-of-town customers

DATE: Dec 28, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

A future of drought? Ute Mountain Ute Tribe looks at life with less water

Limited water supply consolidated to keep corn crop and flour mill operating; jobs lost, canal payment assistance requested

DATE: Dec 28, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado pushes its use of West’s major river to the limit, new study shows

Utah Rivers Council found that diversion and climate change could worsen limited water resources across seven Western states

DATE: Dec 14, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Coloradans worried about water, wildfires and cost of living, new poll shows

What is the ‘water year’ in Colorado, and why should we care?

Colorado River Basin’s water forecast looked good in January; now everything has changed

Tired of mowing your lawn? Colorado could pay you $2 a square foot to rip it out

As snowmaking becomes more common, some question the use of energy and water

Water tracks better than last year as managers debate conservation measures

Nebraska announces $500M plan to claim water from Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park sees beavers as a restoration tool

What will a new year bring to Southwest Colorado?

50% increase in water, sewer rates approved for some Bayfield-area residents

A future of drought? Ute Mountain Ute Tribe looks at life with less water

Colorado pushes its use of West’s major river to the limit, new study shows

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