Good morning, Colorado.
A strong emphasis on environmental news awaits you in today’s Sunriser. It’s a topic we cover extensively here at The Sun, and will continue to do so with two of our upcoming events.
Join environmental reporter Michael Booth for an online discussion Sept. 4 to hear what experts have to say on the awful ozone year Colorado is experiencing.
And join water reporter Shannon Mullane at the Durango Public Library on Sept. 14 as she teams with San Juan Citizens Alliance to host a day of Animas River education. She’ll moderate a panel to go along with a volunteer-led river cleanup along the Animas Trail.
Let’s turn to today’s news.
Product Team
THE NEWS
WATER
Long-dormant dam proposal gets renewed attention as Colorado water district looks to preserve unused water right
A Longmont-based water district filed an application in a special water court earlier this year to maintain its right to use water associated with a 53-year-old plan to build a dam north of Lyons. The possibility has alarmed critics, including the advocacy group Save the World’s Rivers. Jerd Smith breaks down the renewed attention on a long-dormant water plan.
Glen Canyon Dam is producing 17% less electricity. What does that mean for Colorado utilities?
A decline in power production at Glen Canyon Dam has made electric utilities more dependent on the volatile energy market. Hydropower generation is expected to record the second-lowest year for generation with an estimated total of about 2.98 million megawatt-hours. Shannon Mullane explains.
ENVIRONMENT
A strike against the National Audubon Society gains support from Colorado bird workers
$628,000
Audubon Society’s CEO salary in 2022
Erin Hamilton works remotely from Colorado for the New York-based Audubon Society, and has become an active force in the nonprofit’s Bird Union. Having already authorized a strike with a 92% vote, on Wednesday the union announced a three-day strike next month. Conservation work clashes with labor rights in this Michael Booth story.
Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team
COLORADO REPORT
🔑 = source has article meter or paywall
Section by Danika Worthington | Presentation Editor
THE OPINION PAGE
COMMUNITY
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What’s Happening
Aug. 22-29
Colorado State Fair. Pueblo is the place for all your state fair staples, starting tomorrow: livestock, horse and 4-H competitions, monster trucks and rodeos, live music and lots of food served on sticks.
It’s also the place for some distinctly Colorado —maybe distinctly Pueblo —traditions, like the world slopper eating contest, which takes place Aug. 31 at the fairgrounds. This Major League Eating-sanctioned event isn’t for amateurs. In fact, the major league website recommends that sloppers are “best enjoyed at a recreational pace and in appropriate civilian quantities.” Of course, on the world’s stage, there is nothing recreational nor appropriate about Geoff Esper’s 37.5-slopper world record, set at the 2020 state fair. Will Esper attempt to break his record? Or will last year’s winner, James Webb, come back to defend his 32-slopper first place?
The following day, Sept. 1, is Fiesta Day, a lively annual tradition celebrating Hispanic culture in Colorado. Los Tigres del Norte headline the live music lineup, with Ballet Folklórico, Aztec dancers and the los Charros rodeo performing throughout the day.
Various prices; Aug. 23-Sept. 2; 1001 Beulah Ave., Pueblo
Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter
See you tomorrow.
— Kevin & the whole staff of The Sun
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