Take a tour of watershed conservation area

Curious about how Burn Canyon is growing back after the fire? Wondering about the conservation area in Dry Creek Basin? Have you ever checked out a water diversion project? Now’s your chance — on July 10 the San Miguel Basin Conservation District will hold their annual meeting and Gunnison/Dolores watershed conservation tour.
The tour starts at 10 a.m. at the Redvale Community Center (at the junction of Highway 145 and the 35.75 Road in Redvale) and the public is invited to attend.
The tour includes a stop at the Burn Canyon Fire to see the results of the Conservation District rehabilitation efforts, a visit to Dry Creek Basin to check out the conservation efforts funded by an EPA grant, and a peek at the water diversion project on the San Miguel River near Piñon.
For more information contact Laverne McKeever at (970) 327-4885 or at lavernem@sanmiguelcounty.org.

One for the ladies

Men, do you like hunting and fishing? Too bad. This July 12-13 hunting and fishing clinic is for women only.
The free event is known affectionately as the “Cast and Blast” clinic for the flyfishing and shooting skills imparted to the female participants. The Division of Wildlife supplies all the equipment and instruction, and the women will learn how to handle a shotgun and practice shooting clay pigeons, the basics of flyfishing, and will get some pointers on Dutch oven cooking and other outdoor skills.
Participants must have a Colorado fishing license and a Colorado Wildlife Habitat stamp, and a $20 deposit, which is refunded, will hold a place in the clinic. Ladies should bring their own lunch for July 12 but dinner and breakfast will be provided. Camping will be available, or participants can sleep in the cabin. The clinic is limited to 20 women and will be held at the Lone Cone/Jim Olterman State Wildlife Area, 25 miles south of Norwood in Dolores County. To register or for more information call Leigh Gillette at (970) 375-6709 or email leigh.gillette@state.co.us.

State issues river reminders

It was a big winter in Colorado, and all of that snow equals lots of runoff and high rivers. With the state’s rivers running at higher-than-usual levels, the Colorado State Parks organization has issued the following safety guidelines:
• Always wear a personal flotation device (pfd) and a helmet when on the water.
• Dress for the water temperature and not the air temperature; river water temps in Colorado range between 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Know your limits — rafters should be in adequate physical condition to get to shore if their craft capsizes.
• Even experienced rafters and boaters should scout out the route beforehand — traditionally easier places may be more difficult in current water conditions.
• Avoid alcohol while engaging in water recreation.
• Understand the inherent risks involved in this type of recreation.
To date, there have been nine fatalities this year on Colorado rivers, including four that occurred on commercial rafting trips. The other five fatalities occurred on non-commercial trips.