Water - The Durango Herald

Stakeholders weigh in on how La Plata County should spend $11M in COVID-19 relief money

Community organizations highlight housing, pay for essential workers, mental health services

DATE: Sep 14, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Federal investment in forests could spur jobs, reduce wildfires and clear the air, Bennet says

Senator promotes $60 billion Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act in tour around Colorado

DATE: Sep 3, 2021 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Dredging will provide access to last 5 feet of irrigation water in parched McPhee Reservoir

Drought and historic low-water level reveal sediment blockage

DATE: Aug 6, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Journal reporter selected for five-month fellowship to advance water journalism

Fellows to investigate timely water issues facing Colorado

DATE: Jul 30, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Cannabis industry in New Mexico faces big challenge of water

MADRID, N.M. (AP) – Where some see desert, Cid and Medina Isbell see opportunity. Standing on a plot on their 30-acre property just north of Madrid, they envision a greenhouse full of cannab...

DATE: Jul 28, 2021 | CATEGORY: Business

How does Durango’s water plan address growth over next 50 years?

City must consider how to handle peak demand as population increases

DATE: Jul 19, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado declares drought emergency for Western Slope

State monitors 21 counties, including La Plata County

DATE: Jul 2, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bayfield adopts plan to manage conservation during drought

Town outlines increased fines for periods of extreme drought

DATE: Jun 16, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

High-altitude sewer plant promises clean discharge, fresh smell

Subdivision installs state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly wastewater treatment system

DATE: Jun 16, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Key reservoir on Colorado River hits record low amid drought

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A key reservoir on the Colorado River has dipped to its record low in the latest showing of the drought's grip on the region.

DATE: Jun 10, 2021 | CATEGORY: Regional News

With drought in the forecast, Bayfield considers a plan for low-water years

Road map will help town officials manage dry years through conservation measures

DATE: Jun 9, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Drought saps agricultural economy in Southwest Colorado

Weak snowpack leaves McPhee Reservoir low for season

DATE: May 26, 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

Stakeholders weigh in on how La Plata County should spend $11M in COVID-19 relief money

Federal investment in forests could spur jobs, reduce wildfires and clear the air, Bennet says

Dredging will provide access to last 5 feet of irrigation water in parched McPhee Reservoir

Journal reporter selected for five-month fellowship to advance water journalism

Cannabis industry in New Mexico faces big challenge of water

How does Durango’s water plan address growth over next 50 years?

Colorado declares drought emergency for Western Slope

Bayfield adopts plan to manage conservation during drought

High-altitude sewer plant promises clean discharge, fresh smell

Key reservoir on Colorado River hits record low amid drought

With drought in the forecast, Bayfield considers a plan for low-water years

Drought saps agricultural economy in Southwest Colorado

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