May 22, 2013

Portal opened

 

a03_tunnel
Photo by Hank Lohmeyer
The west portal of North Delta Irrigation Company’s collapsed tunnel under Cory Bluff was being reopened last week by the contractor who plans to install the quarter-mile-long bore with 54-inch diameter, thick walled pipe. The tunnel was dug by area pioneers 110 years ago. It is part of a system that carries water form the Gunnison River at Austin to irrigators north of Delta.

 

Agriculture

Apply now for summer natural resources camp

The Delta Conservation District is offering scholarships for Camp Rocky, a week-long, residential camp for 14-19-year-olds who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in natural resources. The Camp Rocky professional staff helps participants learn about their environment through hands-on experience.

Read more...

Agriculture

Volunteers needed for trail work

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, in conjunction with the Montrose Public Lands Center, invites the public to complete the missing link on a local loop trail that is very popular with ATV, dirt bike and mountain bike users. About 50 volunteers are needed to help build the new section of the Coyote Wash trail in the Dry Creek area.

Read more...

Agriculture

Cherry blossoms at Pea Green

c08_blossoms
Photo by Merna Ray
Cherry blossoms at Pea Green
Merna Ray of Olathe submitted this photo of cherry blossoms at Pea Green which survived the freezing temperatures of last week. That’s good news for those who savor the tasty treat.

Agriculture

Water forecast for basin is drying up

Water outlook for this year is deteriorating. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, which monitors water resources in the Gunnison Basin, on March 10 the basin snowpack was 78 percent of average. As of April 16, the snowpack was measured at 46 percent and falling.

Read more...

Agriculture

Whitetop is blooming

Whitetop (hoary cress) is currently in the pre-bloom or early bloom stage throughout Delta County. Photos are available at www.cwma.org under the weed information tab.

Read more...

Agriculture

Canal closed to public

The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association is notifying the public that the South Canal will be closed to public access from Miguel Road to below tunnel one (2.5 miles downstream from Miguel Road) in preparation for work on the South Canal hydroelectric project.

Agriculture

Take the leap into organic

By John Crabtree

Center for Rural Affairs

The steady growth of organic farming and ranching across rural America and the economic impacts of organics on rural communities cannot be ignored. In 2012, the USDA is again investing $50 million in funding for the EQIP Organic Initiative, which provides a 75% share of the estimated cost of implementing organic conservation measures to those who qualify–90% for beginning, limited-resource and socially-disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Read more...

Agriculture

Sheep initiative launched to grow flocks

The U.S. sheep industry is finding itself amidst an encouraging time: lamb prices are at an all-time high, the wool market is the highest it's been since 1989 and the cull ewe and pelt markets are very lucrative. However, from the farm gate through to the lamb and wool processing level, there is a shared concern about meeting the demand for lamb and wool production in the United States.

Read more...

Agriculture