By Leah Thayer SAN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO Within the San Luis Valley of Colorado lies over 1.3 million acres of agricultural land, spreading amongst 1,739 different farms, and providing 4,687 local jobs. All of which is currently threatened by the onslaught of aridification in the San Luis Valley, resulting from changing climate. “Climate change impacts how…
By Auguste Voss OLD SNOWMASS—Tucked away in the mountain foothills along Colorado’s Roaring Fork River, scientist Amory Lovins lives in an energy-efficient house with his wife, Judy, and a collection of stuffed orangutans. He tugged at one of the orangutans’ toes, grinning playfully as he held court recently with a group of Colorado College student…
By Whitton Feer – Somerset Colorado The modified RAM 3500 bounced through the coal mine at 25mph. It was equipped with a speed limiter to ensure the safety of those in the mine. The driver, John Poulos, flashed his lights before turning one of the many 90 degree, blind corners. This safety precaution was repeated…
By Emily Stamper A reporter in my class, Johnna Geick, burst out into tears as Christine Canaly discussed her feelings on climate change and the environment. We had been traveling around the San Luis Valley for four days interviewing people on how climate change has affected their lives. The outlooks we had been hearing on…
By Auguste Voss SAN LUIS VALLEY—Sitting by the fireplace on a frigid afternoon in Crestone, activist Christine Canaly talked about the impacts of climate change. Canaly founded the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, and has worked for more than three decades trying to protect water resources and thousands of acres of public land. She is…
By Emily Stamper The San Luis Valley is unbelievably beautiful. It is the kind of place you put on a postcard. The kind of place you wish you could live, but always make excuses for why you can’t. It is 80,000 square miles and only has 50,000 residents…making it a hub for meditation retreats (20,000…
By Lili Weir — GOTHIC, CO How are people living in this former ghost town evolving as the eyes of the world turn to Gothic and Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory for answers to their climate questions? For the scientists and data collectors who call this one road valley home, the increasing obligation to relay their…
By Mitchell Adams CRESTED BUTTE—High in the Elk Mountain Range, there is no question that climate change is reshaping the environment. But, two prevalent town figures who agree on climate science are fighting for fundamentally different responses. One wants to prioritize the preservation of the natural ecosystem, while the other wants to capitalize on global…
By Rachel Colchete Officially designated the wildflower capital of Colorado, the small ski town of Crested Butte serves as a prime location to enjoy outdoor activities and charming natural scenery, but concerns about climate change affecting the area’s natural landscapes and wildlife are making local environmental advocates ill at ease. Sue Navy, board president of…
By Olivia Dicks Crested Butte’s recreational industry rooted in cold winter skiing is beginning to shift towards warm weather mountain biking. It’s one indication of how climate change impacts are leading to changes in human society. Crested Butte used to make money mostly off skiing in the winter. The ski company originally started running lifts…
