The Durango Telegraph - Sept. 18, 2025

the durango

Endangered Mexican wolf faces uphill battle

City hosts parade, Sepp & ‘exciting announcement’

Sax player Sam Kelly on landing the big gig with Andy Frasco by Stephen Sellers

On the cover

A hummingbird stocks up on the abundant local nectar supply while the getting is good./ Photo by Alex Krebs

Start me up

Colorado’s largest rural startup event returns to Durango on Oct. 610. Sponsored by Startup Colorado, the sixth annual West Slope Startup Week brings entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders from across Colorado to town for a free, five-day celebration of rural entrepreneurship and innovation.

Last year’s event drew more than 500 participants, making it the largest turnout in WSSW history. Attendees represented 77 cities – 68 of them within Colorado.

This year, WSSW returns with more than 70 expert-led sessions on topics ranging from marketing and funding to climate innovation, legal resources and scaling strategies. The event also features an expanded Latine track for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs, along with a bilingual language exchange.

“The real secret sauce of ‘Wessy’ is always the speakers, with their ideas, experiences and willingness to share. This year’s program will feature both fresh new voices and returning favorites, each bringing something unique to the table,” Vanessa McCrann, Lead Organizer of West Slope Startup Week, said.

WSSW also features a pitch competition, where rural founders pitch their ventures for a chance to earn capital, mentorship and inkind resources. Last year’s competition awarded more than $380K.

Two of Colorado’s top state leaders, State Treasurer Dave Young and Attorney General Phil Weiser, will also attend and speak on entrepreneurship and innovation in rural Colorado.

This year’s event also features the firstever Night Market for rural creatives, hosted by the Rural Creative Collective at The Powerhouse on Sat., Oct. 7. The market will showcase the works of more than 20 rural makers and artists from across the state in everything from sustainable jewelry and ceramics to herbal remedies and veggie snacks.

The Night Market will also feature work from Startup Colorado’s inaugural Artist in Residence, Dundee & Lee, from Trinidad. Made up of business partners Emilie Odeile and Ken Chapin, their fiber sculpture “Tom Mix Wept” will be featured at the event. (“Tom Mix wept” refers to the 1929 funeral of Wyatt Earp, where legendary silent film star Tom Mix openly wept while serving as a pallbearer.)

The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-

ster powder days. We are wholly independently owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and distributed in the finest and

“The goal is to elevate rural creatives as entrepreneurs in their own right and offer them a high-profile venue within one of Colorado’s largest rural startup events,” Startup Colorado Content and Brand Creator Margaret Hedderman said.

For more on West Slope Startup week, go to: westslopestartupweek.com.

LaVidaLocal opinion

Planting a goal

It finally came via one of the projects that I started over the summer: a deep clean of my apartment. Over several weeks, I sorted through clothes that had long been saved in my storage and closet. I cleared out junk drawers and donated several boxes of items. I wanted to get my apartment back to a state that was less cluttered and more intentional, as if I had just moved in or was getting ready to move out. I wasn’t planning on heading anywhere, but I wanted to make the type of bold decisions that one makes when heading across town or state. Near the end of this organizational journey, my sister and I discussed our futures over a few beers at Steamworks.

In what felt like a stroke of genius, it seemed clear to me that all this cleaning was leading to the next step: moving in with my parents.

It felt strange to consider this step back into my parent’s home as a step forward into my future. Growing up in the ’90s and 2000s, leaving home after graduating high school was part of becoming an adult; the same as getting a license or a job. It was the cultural norm and a way to further practice one’s agency. However, the economic circumstances of my parents’ generation and my own have become vastly different. Low-cost homes and/or low inflation rates? I don’t know her.

may be an uphill battle, owning a home has become a new goal of mine. It feels more important than ever to have a goal like this to fight the nihilism that may otherwise creep in.

One of the problems with this new goal was that I loved my apartment. This would have been my fifth year living in that space. It had a ton of natural light and was situated within walking distance of most of the businesses I frequented. And most importantly, I was comfortable. But one of Octavia Butler’s post-apocalyptic novels planted a seed in my thoughts that I should “prepare while comfortable.” At the moment, preparing looks like paying down debt and saving money. I’m planning for the savings to be put toward a home, but there can be any number of life events that may require a chunk of change at a moment’s notice.

According to a July article in Fortune magazine, the average homebuyer in the ’80s was in their late 20s. In 2024, the median age jumped up to 38 years old. They predict that the average Gen Z home buyer will be 50 years old when they purchase their first home.

After initially chatting with my sister, I thought, “Why not set my sights on a home?” I know that interest rates are relatively high, wildfires are driving up the cost of home insurance and markets may crash – but I’m hopeful! In what

Thumbin’It

Parker’s Animal Rescue is celebrating 10 years of finding homes for some 1,200 cats and dogs. A paw-five to Lisa Parker and all the other great local animal rescues and volunteers for helping put a dent in overpopulation, saving lives and hooking us up with our new best buddies.

After closing more than a year ago, The Hive is officially re-opened in its new digs on Camino del Rio. Stop by for a shred, some art classes or just to say “hey.”

And speaking of dogs, the City is looking at locations for a new dog park along the River Trail to give dogs a safe place to romp, ease congestion and hopefully avoid another tragedy like the one this summer.

What may be the biggest problem, however, is moving past the negative ideas of what it may mean for me to be a thirtysomething adult living with their parents. Does this choice negate the progress I’ve made toward independence? Does it qualify as a source of embarrassment? I don’t believe so.

By living with my parents, I get to see them more often than I have in the past few years. They spoil me with breakfast in the morning and save a plate for me in the fridge after an evening of work. The lowpriced rent is an ideal and quick solution for saving. In fact, I feel that I will ultimately get to practice my agency more with these savings.

I am also beginning to sculpt a different idea of what it means to live on my own. Perhaps this looks like a plot of land with smaller residences inhabited with friends and family nearby. Whatever the situation, I know that it will be the result of preparation and time.

– Doug Gonzalez

Despite valiant efforts to contain them, zebra mussels are out of the bag in Colorado. The invasive species was recently found in the Colorado River and a lake in Grand Junction.

The Sundance Kid and Hollywood golden boy Robert Redford died Tuesday at the age of 89. He had a great head of hair till the end.

What appears to be two more politically motivated shootings last Wednesday, with the killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah and a shooting at Evergreen High School. Since we can’t seem to cancel semiautomatic weapons or hateful online rhetoric, maybe we can just cancel Wednesdays? Who’s with us?

Federal Bureau of Intoxication

The Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter in Montana has an incinerator that’s used to burn euthanized animals, but the employees were unaware that the FBI also used it to burn seized narcotics. So, last Wednesday when the shelter filled with smoke, the staff just assumed someone had “forgotten to turn on the fan” again, but then all 14 employees ended up in the hospital, which is where an official confessed that the smoke came from an entire kilo of meth. The shelter’s 75 animals were relocated to foster homes, but four litters of kittens that were trapped in a room with heavy smoke are still being closely monitored to make sure they don’t end up being brain damaged enough to work for the federal government.

The other gray wolf

The Southwest’s critically endangered Mexican lobo faces hard road to recovery

by Ted Williams

Most people are familiar with the gray wolf, which was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and has since established populations in several Western states. But there’s an endangered wolf subspecies not often written about – the Mexican wolf, smallest of the gray wolves. Also called “El Lobo,” it’s native to America’s Southwest and Mexico.

Just 286 wild lobos roam Arizona and New Mexico, and perhaps 35 inhabit Mexico, while 350 are in captivity. Humans have nearly wiped these wolves out.

Irrational wolf hatred hampers recovery, that hatred issuing from people who want to control public land, and from some hunters, outfitters and ranchers. For example, last April, Catron County –which is in southwestern New Mexico along the Arizona border – a loud voice for private control of public lands, unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming a “lobo emergency.”

The Catron County Commission has been declaring “lobo emergencies” since 2006, when fewer than two dozen lobos populated the entire Southwest.

Audrey McQueen, a Catron County commissioner, hunting outfitter and chair of the County Livestock Authority, was quoted by Outdoor Life magazine as follows: “We are scared. We’ve had deputies posted at the school this year so our kids can go out and play.”

There’s no record of lobos ever attacking humans. Kids face more danger from poodles.

McQueen also complained that Mexican wolves have “changed (elk) behavior.” Translation: Elk now act like elk, fleeing when hunters stop their trucks. The biological problem facing all living lobos is that they are descended from just seven survivors, making inbreeding a concern. If they lose the protection of the Endangered Species Act, their pop-

ulations will continue to diminish and inbreeding will increase. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., has already introduced an “Enhancing Safety for Animals” bill that would remove Endangered Species Act protection for lobos.

Until 2023, lobos were thought to have mostly escaped the genetic damage of inbreeding. But that year, Greta Anderson, of the Western Watersheds Project, learned from a public-records request that conjoined toe pads, called “syndactyly” – a symptom of severe inbreeding in canids – was seen on the carcass of a captive lobo raised in this country and released in Mexico.

Now that researchers are looking for syndactyly, they’re finding it in both

wild and captive lobos. A solution, An derson explained, would be letting lobos occupy the northern part of their natural range where a few could hybridize with northern gray wolves, as they did historically. A new shot of northern gray wolf genes in the lobo population would relieve the genetic bottleneck.

But a federal recovery plan imposes an artificial boundary – Interstate 40, which slices off the top third of Arizona and New Mexico. Whenever possible, all lobos that cross to the north are returned to the south. This boundary, insisted on by the two state wildlife agencies, is making true recovery impossible.

South of I-40, lobos are classified as a “non-essential experimental pop-

ulation,” meaning it’s fine for managers to kill them if they are deemed problematic. It’s only north of I-40 that lobos are fully protected as “endangered.”

A draft recovery plan prescribed three U.S. subpopulations, each with at least 200 lobos: one south of I-40, two north. But then-Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wrote an editorial excoriating the plan, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ran for cover.

The current plan prescribes only a single subpopulation of 320 lobos, all south of I-40, and a subpopulation of 200 in Mexico. The Mexican subpopulation is a fantasy.

There’s scant public land in Mexico, and ranchers there still poison wolves. Biologist David Parsons, of the Rewilding Institute, led lobo recovery from 1990-99. “We’re not paying attention to the best available science required by the Endangered Species Act,” he said. “This artificial boundary precludes expansion (and) Mexican wolves remain at risk of extinction.”

The current practice of cross-fostering lobos – placing captive-bred pups in dens to be raised by wild wolves – would work if lobos had decent genetic diversity. But pups take two years to reach sexual maturity, and mortality is naturally high in the wild.

That’s why Anderson, Parsons and other wolf allies advocate adult pack releases.

“Cross-fostering is a tool in the toolbox, but it’s very slow and very labor-intensive,” said Anderson. “And some of the (parent) wolves are being used over and over again, sending basically the same genetic content into the wild.”

Meanwhile, wolf haters are shooting lobos on both sides of I-40.

Ted Williams, a longtime conservationist and environmental writer, is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. ■

SoapBox

Getting to the truth

As we all know, Trump is a convicted felon, had six bankruptcies and is a convicted sex offender. He is a former friend of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He lost in appeal court and still owes $83.3 million to journalist and writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her.

He said he would stop all wars from day one. Well, Russia and Israel said “bye bye.” Tariffs are taxes we all pay. Remember six failures of his money –next will be ours. Look out this fall for a downturn, but I hope it does not happen. Call your representative to release all the Epstein files … good or bad, we must all know.

– Bob Battani, Durango

Help fund future DFPD

Durango Fire Protection District and its Board of Directors are responsible for ensuring that our agency has the staff, equipment and locations to meet the demand for services placed on us by the public. We take this charge seriously, focusing on the most efficient and effective ways to provide services to the public.

The growth in our community has

been pushing toward the southeast for many years, with the development of Three Springs, anchored by the relocation of Mercy hospital around 2006. Since that time, the development has steadily grown, and calls have steadily increased. There are currently more than 700 apartment units either in construction or planning, a 140-bed assisted living facility, hotel, new elementary school, as well as significant growth as Three Springs Phase 1 completes and Phase 2 begins, with another 1,100 residential units. Based on current demands for service and forecasted growth, we need to build and staff a station in that area.

The Durango Fire Protection District Board of Directors, in conjunction with staff, is moving forward with an election this fall to increase our mill levy to fund the construction and staff for a new fire station in the Three Springs area. The question will be on ballots in both the City of Durango and the Fire District. The ballot question is 2A on the City ballots, and 7A on the District ballots. The question will ask voters to authorize an increase in property tax not to exceed 4.45 mills.

Year one is calculated at 3.59 mills.

Years two and beyond will be based on scheduled assessment rate decreases the State Legislature has implemented over the next few years. Those decreases will make 3.59 mills in 2026 produce the same revenue as 4.45 in 2028. Therefore, we set the mill rate for the last step of the decreases at the advice of Hilltop

Securities, our election financial advisor. Please go to www.durangofire.org for more details and in-depth explanation of the mills and how much it will cost homeowners and commercial property owners if approved.

– Randy Black, Fire Chief, Durango Fire Protection District D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim

Party on wheels

Bike parade, Sepp film and ‘exciting announcement’ to be rolled out Sept. 26

by Missy Votel

The only thing Durango loves more than a parade? A bike parade. And next Fri., Sept. 26, locals will get a chance to partake in a party on wheels during a special event featuring the world premiere of “GC Kuss,” a film on local cycling-man-of-the-hour Sepp Kuss, as well as an “exciting announcement” from the City of Durango. (Spoiler alert: this may or may not have something to do with the 2030 Union Cyclist International Mountain Bike World Championship.)

“Nothing embodies the spirit of the Durango cycling community like a bike parade. Bring your bike, bring your helmet, bring your Devo jersey to be autographed, and wrap yourself in the magic that this experience,” Devo Communications Director Aleks Gajdeczka said.

The parade will be followed by a Q&A with Kuss, food and drinks, the aforementioned “exciting announcement” (more on that in a minute) and, of course, the film.

For those who may need a refresher, Kuss, a Durango Devo prodigy who was born and raised in Durango, won the 2023 Vuelta a España in spectacular underdog fashion. The film, directed by Charlie Howard, follows Kuss’ journey from Devo kid to world-renowned Grand Tour champion. For those not up on the cycling lingo, “GC” was a hashtag used by fans during Kuss’ unexpected rise in the Vuelta, from super-domestique to general classification (“GC”) leader.

“This film at its core is a love letter to Durango. It’s not just about Sepp’s incredible journey, it’s about the spirit of this place; a heritage carried through trails, friends and community that shaped who he is,” filmmaker Howard said. “That spirit is at the heart of the film, and there’s nowhere else this pre-

miere could happen but here.”

The event will be held at Buckley Park from 3-9 p.m., with Kuss hosting an autograph session from 3-4:30 p.m. Then, Kuss and other local cycling dignitaries will lead the slow roll down Main Avenue starting at 5 or 5:30 p.m. (start times varied in press releases, but

folks are asked to start lining up at 4:45 p.m.) The parade will head south down Main from Buckley, turn up 5th Street and return to Buckley Park via East 2nd Avenue.

Due to limited space, tickets are required for the film, which starts at dusk (about 7:30 p.m.) Ticketholders may ar-

The most fun outdoor Sunday brunch in

10 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring a new DJ every week and brunch dishes from all our food trucks

This week’s live music: 9/18, 6-9pm, Moe Coole 9/19, 7-10pm, Rockin’ Randy • 9/20, 6-9pm, Mr. Mota

rive as early as 3 p.m. to secure their prime view ing spots (low-back chairs and blankets are advised.)

“This is going to be a memorable evening for the whole community. Sepp is a world-class example of sportsmanship, passion and a genuine love of cycling –everything Durango Devo aims to foster,” Devo Executive Director Nate Greason said.

As for the “exciting announcement,” Gaige Sippy, who organized Durango Cycling Championship LLC to bring the world championship back to Durango, said the event could bring up to 30,000 spectators to the community with another 50 million watching on TV and social media from afar.

Of course, the first-ever MTB world championships were held in Durango back in 1990, helping to spur the development of the town’s cycling legacy and organizations like Devo and Durango Trails, which oversees more than 300 miles of trails in and around town.

In addition to the inaugural world championships, Durango is no stranger to hosting cycling events on a large scale, including the U.S. Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship, the Singlespeed World Championships and the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, which is the second-longest-running cycling event in the United States. Local cyclists have represented Team USA in every Olympics since 1996.

The organizing committee hopes that bringing the 2030 world championship to Durango will further solidify the city as an international cycling destination. Sippy said if Durango is chosen to host the world championship, it will also host the Union Cyclist International Mountain Bike World Cup in 2029 and another national or international caliber event in 2028. The

world championship is a five-day competition with 800 competitors from 55 different nations.

“Durango is very much woven into the fabric of the world championship of mountain bike racing, and to come back 40 years later would be amazing,” he said. “Bringing the world championship back would reestablish and enhance Durango as a premier cycling community, not only in the United States, but across the world.”

Durango City Council approved partnering with Durango Cycling Championship in August to act as the fiscal sponsor to bring the world championship to Durango. Other organizations involved include USA Cycling, Purgatory Resort, Durango Trails, Durango Devo, Fort Lewis College and others.

“Hosting the 2030 Mountain Bike World Championship would be a great opportunity that honors our city’s legacy while driving our future,” City Manager José Madrigal said. “Hosting an event of this magnitude will be great for our local businesses and tourism and allow us to showcase our ongoing investments in public amenities. The potential millions in economic activity will leave a lasting positive impact on Durango’s infrastructure and livability.”

The City’s Prosperity Office said the economic impact from similar world championships held in Fayetteville, Ark., and Rock Hill, S.C., brought in direct spending close to $30 million and tax revenue between $1 million - $2 million.

To buy tickets for the film, go to: tinyurl.com/t7pxrftc. Proceeds will go to Devo. Volunteers are also needed to help pull this off (and will receive free entry to the film). To sign up, go to: tinyurl.com/4sz5vehe. ■

BetweentheBeats

The big leagues

Talking to local star Sam Kelly about landing gig with Andy Frasco

by Stephen Sellers

Greetings, dear readers! This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Durango’s hometown musical hero Sam Kelly. A familiar face for nearly 15 years in the local music scene, Sam, who grew up in Dolores, played with Elder Grown and also worked at iAM Music. He recently moved to Denver with Elder Grown before being called up to the Big Leagues to play with Andy Frasco and the U.N.

After subbing in for a few months, he was officially indoctrinated into the band with a ceremonial swig of whiskey at last weekend’s Telluride Blues and Brews. (Read about it in the Denver Post: tinyurl.com/yv9d6ks6.)

He’s now a bona fide touring musician, playing saxophone night after night for thousands of fans. I caught up with Sam to hear about making the jump from local stages to a life on the road with one of the hottest up-and-coming bands in the country.

SS: You’re in town for a hot minute and things have shifted in your musical life in a massive way. You were recently hired by Andy Frasco to play horns. What do we call this? Have you graduated? Leveled up?

SK: Leveled up.

SS: What’s it like to come from a small pond and get the call to live the life of a touring musician?

SK: Durango is this awesome sanctuary. You can incubate here until you feel like you’re growing out of it. I moved to Denver with Elder Grown, and we got asked to open for Andy Frasco and the U.N. down in New Mexico of all places. I hit it off with those guys. Andy said, “Hey, you guys should sit in with us … So I drove across the state and sat in with them at the Animas City Theatre. I got up on Andy’s keyboard, ripped a solo, and it’s all history from there.

SS: For readers who might not be familiar with Andy Frasco and the U.N., can you describe what kind of music it is?

SK: For all intents and purposes, it’s a rock and roll band with jammy, funky elements. He’s got some fantastic albums and great music videos, but the show is the real thing. It’s rowdy – ridiculous stage antics. Andy’s half quarterback, half comedian. We’ll be doing a song and suddenly he’ll throw in a Nirvana cover mid-set. Two songs in, he’s calling tunes for the rest of the night. Everything is based on the crowd. It’s highenergy and very interactive.

SS: What’s it like to look out at thousands of people?

SK: It’s terrifying (laughs). You want to make it to that level, but once you’re there it’s overwhelming. I got thrown into this so quickly there hasn’t been much time to secondguess it. Either I commit, or I lose the gig. So I jump in, eyes closed, then open them and think, “Oh my God.” It feels like a dream that I get to do this almost every day.

SS: How do you pass your time between gigs?

SK: I still work for iAM Music doing marketing and event promotion, so that fills a lot of my daytime. Otherwise, it’s just being on the road with your friends – cracking jokes, getting dinner, hanging out. You spend more time together off stage than on, so the camaraderie really matters.

SS: What’s the biggest surprise about being a touring musician?

Sam Kelly

SK: How exhausting it is. It’s a lot of work. The best-case scenario is being on the bus where everyone has their own bunk, but you’re still getting jostled around all night. And trying not to eat piles of greasy food every day – that’s honestly the hardest part. You’re living a dream, but it’s still a grind.

SS: What’s coming up that you’re excited about?

SK: I’m excited for Elder Grown’s show at the Animas City Theatre in November. It’ll be great to come home for that. I’m also glad we have almost all of November off from the Frasco group to reset a little. Then we’ve got some big New Year’s Eve shows and more cool things in January and February. Elder Grown is also doing a weeklong tour with Andy Frasco, so I get to bring my boys along. That’s so cool. I still feel like the fresh little baby in the group.

SS: Thanks so much for chatting. Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

SK: If somebody’s reading this and wondering how to make something like this happen – it’s perseverance. Keep your eyes on your version of the dream. As cheesy as that sounds, I believe that. I’ve worked really hard at this, but it’s also luck. Looking back on how many bands I’ve played with and how much I’ve put into it, I’m just glad the effort paid off. ■

BigPivots

Ground (water) zero

The Colorado River rightfully gets attention – so should aquifer depletion

by Allen Best

Woes of the Colorado River have justifiably commanded broad attention. The slipping water levels in Lake Powell and other reservoirs provide a compelling argument for change. How close to the cliff’s edge are we? Very close, says a new report by the Center for Colorado River Studies.

But another cogent – and somewhat related – story lies underfoot in northeastern Colorado. That’s the story of groundwater depletion. There, groundwater in the Republican River Basin has been mined, by farmers and the few small towns in the region, at a furious pace for the last 50 to 60 years.

Much of this water in the Ogallala aquifer, which was deposited during several million years, will be gone within several generations. In some places it already is. Farmers once supplied by water from underground must now rely on what falls from the sky.

In the San Luis Valley, unlike the Republican River Basin, aquifers can be replenished somewhat by water that originates from mountain snow via canals from the Rio Grande. The river has been delivering less water, though. It has problems paralleling those of the Colorado River. Changes in the valley’s farming practices have been made, but more will be needed.

In a story commissioned by Headwaters magazine (and republished in serial form at BigPivots.com), I also probed mining of Denver Basin aquifers by Parker, Castle Rock and other south-suburban communities.

Those Denver Basin aquifers, like the Ogallala, get little replenishment from mountain snow. Instead of growing corn or potatoes, the water goes to urban needs in one of America’s wealthier areas. Parker and Castle Rock believe they can tap groundwater far into the future, but to

diversify their sources, they have joined hands with farmers in the Sterling area with plans to pump water from the South Platte River before it flows into Nebraska. This pumping will require 2,000 feet of vertical lift across 125 miles, an extraordinary statement of need in its own way.

Like greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere, these underground depletions occur out of sight. Gauges at wellheads tell the local stories, just like the carbon dioxide detector atop Hawaii’s Mauna Loa has told the global story since 1958.

Colorado’s declining groundwater also can be seen within a global context. Using data from satellites collected during the last two decades, researchers from Arizona, California and elsewhere recently used satellites data to track water held in glaciers, lakes and aquifers across the globe. In their study, published recently in Science Advances, they report

that water originating from groundwater mining now causes more sea level rise than the melting of ice.

“In many places where groundwater is being depleted, it will not be replenished on human timescales,” they wrote. “It is an intergenerational resource that is being poorly managed, if managed at all, by recent generations, at tremendous and exceptionally undervalued cost to future generations. Protecting the world’s groundwater supply is paramount in a warming world and on continents that we now know are drying.”

This global perspective cited several areas of the United States, most prominently California’s Central Valley but also the Ogallala of the Great Plains.

In Colorado, the Ogallala underlies the state’s southeastern corner as well, but the main component lies north, in the Republican River Basin. The river was named by French fur trappers in the

1700s, long before the Republican Party was organized. The area within Colorado, which contains the towns of Wray, Yuma and Burlington and is likely unknown to most of Colorado’s mountain-gawking residents, is only slightly smaller than New Jersey. Approximately 600,000 acres are irrigated here annually using groundwater from approximately 4,000 high-capacity wells. There is minimal surface water irrigation.

A 1943 compact with Nebraska and Kansas has driven Colorado’s recent efforts to slow groundwater mining. The aquifer feeds the Republican River and its tributaries. As such, the depletions reduce flows into down-river states.

Farmers are being paid to remove land from irrigation with a goal of 25,000 acres by 2030 to keep Colorado in compliance. So far, it’s all carrots, no sticks. Colorado is also deliberately mining water north of Wray to send to Nebraska during winter months. This helps keep Colorado in compact compliance. So far, these efforts have cost more than $100 million, some of the money coming from self-assessments and others from state and federal grants and programs.

In recent years, more than 700,000 acre-feet of water have been drafted from the Ogallala in the Republican River Basin. In one hot and dry year, 2012, they pumped 940,000 acre-feet. As a point of reference, Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in the state, can hold 947,435 acre-feet. Annually, Denver Water distributes an average of 232,000 acre-feet to a population of 1.5 million.

Hard conversations are under way in the Republican River Basin and in the San Luis Valley, too. They will get harder yet. Sixteen percent of all of Colorado’s water comes from underground.

The Colorado River has big troubles. It’s not alone.

Allen Best chronicles water and energy changes in Colorado at BigPivots.com ■

Thursday18

“Share Your Garden” surplus produce distribution, 4:30-6 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203

Ska-B-Q w/music by Rob Webster, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

“Nits’aadóóÍdahwiil’aah (We Are Learning From You),” film about Diné textile artist and farmer Kevin Aspaas, 5 p.m. reception, 6 p.m. film, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC

Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Navigate Peri- & Post-menopause Like a Pro, 5:30 p.m., Durango Chiropractic, 129 E. 32nd St.

Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Happy Hour Trail Work, 5:30-7:30 p.m., location TBD, sign up at www.durangotrails.org

Jeff Solon Jazz, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Moe Coole plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.

Terry Hartzel plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Trivia Night on the Plaza, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio

Ill.Gates, Noonz, TekniqueBTB, Nuffsaid perform, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.

Friday19

Munch: A kinkster social gathering, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Durango Pole Dance, 3600 Main Ave., Unit B

Women in Manufacturing Agile Space Industries factory tour, 9-11 a.m., 1514 Main Ave.

Harvest Music Festival, 12 noon-11:30 p.m., Tico Time, Aztec

Women in Manufacturing StoneAge Tools factory tour, 1-3 p.m., 466 S Skylane Dr.

Fiesta en la Mesa, 4-8 p.m., FLC Student Union

Women in Manufacturing Networking, 4:306:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Ben Gibson Band plays, 5 p.m., Gazpacho, 431 E. 2nd Ave.

Fall Gallery Walk, 5-8 p.m., Smiley Building ArtRoom Collective and downtown Durango

“Pondering Hope” opening reception featuring

the work of Juanita Nelson & Ron Fundingsland, 5-9 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.

Nina Sasaki with Glen Keefe & Chuck Glass play, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Mike Testa plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Terry Hartzel, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Friday Nights at Fox Fire, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms Winery, 5513 CR 321, Ignacio

Live Stand-Up: Naomi Karavani (Comedy Central, NPR), 6:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Rockin Randy plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.

Saturday20

Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, TBK bank parking lot

Bayfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, Saturdays thru Oct., 1328 CR 501, Bayfield

Silent Book Club Durango, 9 a.m., Hooligan’s Coffee Bar, 802 Camino del Rio

Durango Autumn Arts Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., E. 2nd Ave. between 7th and 9th Aves.

History Live: Renders of the Rider, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Shoshone Park, 400 Shoshone Ave., Ignacio

Silverton Creates! Maker’s Market, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Memorial Park, 1800 Greene St., Silverton

Ska Oktoberfest, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Durango RockFest, 12 noon-10 p.m., Buckley Park

Harvest Music Festival, 12 noon-11:30 p.m., Tico Time, Aztec, N.M.

Folk Jam, 1-2 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Indivisible General Meeting, 3-5 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Cocktails & Canines: PAR 10-Year Anniversary Gala, 4-7 p.m., Destination Ranch, 368 Destination Ranch Rd.

EsoTerra’s 5th Year Anniversary, 4-9 p.m., EsoTerra Arboretum, 270 CR 303

Carute Roma plays, 4:30 p.m., Mancos Brewing, 484 HWY 160, Mancos

Ben Gibson Duo plays, 6 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, 18044 CR 501, Vallecito

The Pastor plays, 6 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Terry Hartzel plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Mr. Mota plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.

The Cheese Wizards with Damn the Moon play, 6:30-10 p.m., Whistling Horse Trail off Florida Rd. (follow the signs)

Get the Led Out in concert, 7:30 p.m., Concert Hall at FLC

Fall Contra Dance, 7:30-10 p.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Mickey Avalon w/Same Flame & G4RD3N perform, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.

Yes, No, Maybe and the Shallow Eddys play, 811 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F

Sunday21

4CORE’s Beyond Solar Tour, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., homes and businesses around Durango

Durango Autumn Arts Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., E. 2nd Ave. between 7th and 9th Aves.

Harvest Music Festival, 12 noon-11:30 p.m., Tico Time, Aztec, N.M.

Karma & Jyama Bhotia Foundation sound healing fundraiser, 3:30-5 p.m., Himalayan Kitchen, 922 Main Ave.

4CORE’s Beyond Solar Gathering with music by Pete Giuliani, 4-7 p.m., Manna Soup Kitchen, 1100 Avenida Del Sol

Nina Sasaki & Dan Carlson play, 4-7 p.m., Wines of the San Juans, Blanco, N.M.

Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park

Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Monday22

Death Café, 4-5 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Spaces, Locations and Imagined Places Art Show, 4:30-6 p.m., Fort Lewis College Art Gallery

AskRachel Hard bound, ad scrambles and distracted working

Interesting fact: The first little free library was built in 2009. Now, more than 200,000 little free libraries around the world make certain everyone can have their very own chemistry textbook from 1972.

Dear Rachel,

I just met someone at their house for a professional sit-down chat. That’s fine. But when I left, they insisted I take a book off their shelf. They thought I’d find it interesting based on our conversation. But this is like a Sacred Bargain. Am I indebted until I give them another book in return?

- Involuntary Book Club

Dear Booked and Sentenced, You are indeed honor bound. But the real question is, is the book itself hard-bound or paperback? You can release yourself from the paperback obligation by leaving a paperback book in a little free library. That’s the circle of life. If it’s hardcover, though, you basi-

Terry Hartzel plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday23

Breast Cancer Networking Group, 4-5 p.m., Cancer Support Community SW Colorado, 1701 Main Ave., Ste. C

Engage Durango Forum, 5-6:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center, 2700 Main Ave.

Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:306:30 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218

Trivia Night, 5:30-7 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218

Twin Buttes Tuesday MTB Ride, 5:30 p.m., Twin Buttes Trailhead

Terry Hartzel plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Author Event: Marcy Cottrell Houle, “The Gift of Aging,” 6 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

cally owe this person a life debt. There is no way to repay this. Not even another hardcover in exchange. Your life is no longer your own.

– The end, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

There oughta be a way to tell your phone that you’re looking things up for a friend and not yourself. I am the compulsive one who whips out my phone to look up prices, directions, answers to weird questions. But you should see the ads my algorithm shows me. It must think I’m half a dozen people in one. I’m tired of being bombarded for baby gates when I don’t have a baby and pomegranates when I’m allergic. Any techno-insight?

– Al Gore Rhythm

Dear Lookup Service,

Two words: Flip. Phone. Your friends can still reach you. But you cease to be the 311 on all things. Plus, no algorithm! Sure, you might become a social

Open Mic Poetry, 6 p.m., The Reading Room, 145 E. College Dr.

“Photographing the DominguezEscalante Trail of 1776,” exhibit and presentation, 6-7 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Cottage Foods Startups, 6-7 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 Highway 140, Hesperus

Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Secret Circus Summer Series allages show, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.

Wednesday24

Weekly Bird Walks, 8-9:30 a.m., Durango Public Library Botanical Gardens, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Breakfast Club Trail Work, weekly, 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m., location TBD, sign up at www.durangotrails.org

Fall Prevention Mini-Workshop, 10-11:30 a.m., Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

pariah and, in turn, have to ask your technologically modern friends to book you a Lyft. But this seems worth it to avoid seeing one more unwanted ad. – You may hang up, Rachel

Dear Rachel, I work from home. Why does everyone in the Real World think this means I’m perpetually flexible? Come help me move a couch! Swing by to see my new puppy! Let’s go get a beer! Just because I’m my own boss doesn’t mean I can be lenient on myself. Every distraction I succumb to means I stay up that much later. How can I set better expectations around my workday?

– Out of Office

Dear “Works” from Home, Your work is the adult equivalent of having class outside. Your whole life is basically a free day, as far as our inner third-graders are concerned. You’ll never stop the onslaught of distractions. You either have to unplug your-

Twin Buttes Farm Stand, weekly, 36:30 p.m., Twin Buttes, 165 Tipple Ave.

Great Garden Series “Leave the Leaves...Or?,” 4:30-6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E 3rd Ave.

Young Professionals of Durango Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m., TBA

Womenade Donor Event, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Cork & Larder, 120 W. 8th St

September Book Club “Real Conversations on Compassion,” 5:307 p.m., Wild New Way, 813 Main Ave., Ste. 201

Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Secret Circus Summer Series, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E College Dr.

“Old School Archaeological Mapping of Mesa Verde,” presented by San Juan Basin Archaeological Society, 7 p.m., FLC Lyceum

Ongoing

Silverton Creates! Celebration of the Arts, thru Sept. 20, Silverton

Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com

self to remain sequestered, or else gift all your friends hardcover books. That’ll get them to stop bugging you so much, for fear of you calling in your life debt to them.

– Self-unemployed, Rachel

“Chopping and Stacking Glaspens” exhibit by Lucille Olechowski, runs thru September, Recess Gallery at Studio &, 1027 Main Ave.

“Nature’s Tapestry in Plein Air,” juried exhibit through Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Upcoming

Discover Your Family History, Thurs., Sept. 25, 2-3 p.m., Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Dr., Bayfield

Manhattan Short 2025 Film Festival, Thurs., Sept. 25, 4 & 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Durango Green Drinks, Thurs., Sept. 25, 5-7 p.m., 11th Street Station

Seed Saving, Thurs., Sept. 25, 5:306:30 p.m., SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab, Riverview Elementary School

Open Mic Poetry Night, Thurs., Sept. 25, 5:30-8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F

Moving Mountains MSI fundraiser, Thurs., Sept. 25, 6-8 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino del Rio Sept. 18, 2025 n 13

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation, you visualize yourself breathing in the suffering, pain or negativity of other people, then imagine breathing out relief, healing or compassion toward them. The practice can also be done on your own behalf. The goal is to transform tension and stress into courage, vitality and healing. I recommend this practice, Aries. Can you turn your scars into interesting tattoos? Can you find mysterious opportunities lurking in the dilemmas? Can you provide grace for others as you feed your own fire?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In a YouTube video, I watched Korean artisans make hanji paper in the same way their predecessors have for 1,300 years. It was complicated and meditative. They peeled off the inner bark of mulberry trees, then soaked it, cooked it and pounded it into pulp. After mixing the mash with the aibika plant, they spread it out on screens and let it dry. I learned that this gorgeous, luminous paper can endure for a thousand years. I hope you draw inspiration from this process. Experiment with softening what has felt unyielding. Treat what’s tough or inflexible with steady, artful effort. Be imaginative and persistent as you shape raw materials into beautiful things you can use for a long time.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Legendary jazz musician Sun Ra was a Gemini who claimed to be from the planet Saturn. He aspired to live in a state of “cosmic discipline” – not just in his musical training but in his devotion to self-improvement, aesthetic exploration and transcendent realities. He fused outrageous style with sacred order, chaos with clarity. I invite you to draw inspiration from him. Put your personal flair in service to noble ideas. Align your exuberant self-expression with your higher purpose. Show off if it helps wake people up.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In Inuit tradition, qarrtsiluni means “waiting in the darkness for something to burst forth.” It refers to the sacred pause before creativity erupts, before the quest begins, before the light returns. This is an apt description of your current state. Tend your inner stillness like a fire about to ignite. Don’t rush it. Honor the hush. The energies you store up will find their proper shape in a few weeks. Trust that the silence is not absence but incubation. Luminosity will bloom from this pregnant pause.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You’re feeling the stirrings of a desire that’s at least half-wild. A surprising vision or opportunity has begun to roar softly within. Don’t chase it recklessly. Practice strategic boldness. Choose where and how you shine. Your radiance is potent, but it will be most effective when offered deliberately, with conscious artistry. You’re being asked to embody the kind of leadership that inspires, not dominates. Be the sun that warms but doesn’t scorch! PS: People are observing you to learn how to shine.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Library of Alexandria in ancient Egypt was crammed with papyrus scrolls from all over the world. It was a gathering point for smart people who loved to compare notes across disciplines. Poets argued amiably with mathematicians. Astronomers discussed inspirations with physicians. Breakthroughs flowed freely because ideas were allowed to hybridize and be challenged without rancor. Consider emulating that rich mélange. Convene unlike minds, cross-pollinate and entertain questions. The influences you need will arrive via unexpected connections.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The ancient Mesopotamians believed each person had a personal god called an ilu who acted as a protector, guide and intercessor with the greater gods. You’re in a phase when your own ilu is extra active and ready to undergo a transformation. Assume you will be able to call on potent help. Be alert for how your instincts and intuitions are becoming more acute and specific. If you feel an odd nudge or a dream insists on being remembered, take it seriously. You’re being steered toward deeper nourishment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In Venice, floods periodically damage books at libraries and bookstores. Volunteers restore them with meticulous, hands-on methods. They use absorbent paper and towels to separate and dry the pages, working page by page. I offer this vignette as a useful metaphor, Scorpio. Why? Because I suspect that a rich part of your story needs repair. It’s at risk of becoming irrelevant, even irretrievable. Your assignment is to nurse it back to full health and coherence. Give it your tender attention as you rehabilitate its meaning. Rediscover and revive its lessons.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In classical Indian music, a raga is not a fixed composition but a flexible framework. It’s defined by a specific scale, characteristic melodies and a traditional time of day for

performance. Musicians improvise and express emotion within that set of constraints. Unlike Western compositions, which are written out and repeated verbatim, a raga has different notes each time it’s played. I think this beautiful art form can be inspirational for you. Choose the right time and tone for what you’re creating. Dedicate yourself to an intention and then play around with flair and delight. Define three nonnegotiable elements and let everything else breathe.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In medieval European monasteries, scribes left blank pages in texts. This was not done to allow for future revelations. Later readers and scribes might fill these spaces with additional text and notes. Books were seen as living documents. I recommend a metaphorical version of this to you. You will thrive by keeping spaces empty and allowing for the unknown to ripen. You may sometimes feel an urge to define, control and fortify, but acting on that impulse could interfere with the gifts that life wants to bring you. Honor what is yet unwritten.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In West African Vodún cosmology, the deity named Lêgba guards the crossroads. He is the mediator and gatekeeper between the human world and spirit realm. He speaks all languages and serves as the first point of contact with other spirits. In the weeks ahead, you may find yourself in Lêgba’s domain: between past and future, fact and fantasy, solitude and communion. You may also become a channel for others, intuiting or translating what they can’t. I won’t be surprised if you know things your rational mind doesn’t fully understand. I bet a long-locked door will swing open and a long-denied connection will finally coalesce. You’re not just passing through the crossroads. You are the crossroads.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager spacecraft. Both carried a message in the form of a golden record to any extraterrestrial who might find it. There were greetings in 55 languages, natural sounds like whale songs and thunderstorms, music by Chuck Berry and others, plus more than 100 images and diagrams explaining how to find Earth. It was science as a love letter, realism with a dash of audacity. I invite you to craft your own version of a golden record. Distill a message that says who you are and what you are seeking: clear enough to be decoded by strangers, warm enough to be welcomed by friends. Put it where the desired audience can hear it: portfolio, outreach note, manifesto, demo. Send signals that will make the right replies inevitable.

Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon.

Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum

Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com

Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)

Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133

Announcements

Revival Services

Special services will be held at Durango Bible Missionary Church, 756 Florida Rd., September 19-28. Mon-Sat 7:00 p.m. Sun 10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Ken Durr, missionary from Guyana, will be the special speaker. Come hear traditional hymns and Biblical truths of deliverance from sin. We welcome you to join us

White Rabbit Fall Book Sale & 12th Anniversary Celebration. 128 W. 14th St., Sat. Oct. 11, 11–4. Pay what you want, take what you need & tell your friends!

ForRent

Private Office Space for Rent in environmental consulting firm’s office $400/mo (144 sf) Avail. 10/1 835 E. 2nd Ave. 3-mo lease includes all utilities, wi-fi, shared kitchen and use of conference room. For more info please contact jhesford@eroresources.com

Lost/Found

Cid Come Home

Last seen in Durango, July 21, 2024, by St. Columba Church. He is chipped, missing left canine tooth, white, big black spots, green eyes. Reward. 970-4036192 .

Classes/Workshops

All Levels Yoga Thursdays 10am, Smiley Room 32. Props provided. Accessible class for continuing beginners who want to focus on

functional movement and fundamental actions within standing, seated, twisting, forward and backward bending postures. www.k-lea.com (303) 819-9076

West Coast Swing

Ready to dance? Join our 3-week West Coast Swing Basics series for beginners! It’s fun, social, and easy to learn—no partner or experience needed. A new series starts every few weeks, so join us for the next one! We also offer a weekly social dance – a fun drop-in option or included with your series registration! Sign up at: www.westslopewesties.com

ForSale

Reruns Home Furnishings

Patio sets, bistros and yard art. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat.

Wanted

Books Wanted at White Rabbit

Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213

BodyWork

Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.

Services

Chapman Electric

Specializing in remodels, repairs, and additions both big and small. Local and reliable. Colorado Licensed Master Electrician. Mike 970-403-6670

Boiler Service - Water Heater

Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917

Electric Repair

Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.

CommunityService

Find Relief & Support

Free community yoga classes at Smiley Building Room 20A: “Yoga of Recovery” (Tues. 10-11:15): Address addictive habits in a supportive environment. “Pain Care Yoga” (Tues. 4:30-5:45): Pain management

HaikuMovieReview

‘Running on Empty’ Not the ’88 River Phoenix drama nor a Jackson Browne doc – Lainie Maxson

and improved movement. innerpeaceyoga therapy.com/locations/durango/

Dementia/Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Support and resources for those caring for a loved one with dementia/Alzheimer’s 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon, La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.