Pagosa Country has experienced a mixed bag of conditions since the start of the monsoon season in mid-July, including fire, rain, downgrading of area fire restrictions, alleviation of extreme drought conditions, a flood advisory for portions of the Piedra River and apparent record lows on the San Juan River.
For more information on the Rio Blanco Fire, see related article and www.PagosaSUN.com.
Stage 2 fire restrictions rescinded
Beginning July 22, area jurisdictions began rescinding Stage 2 fire restrictions, with Stage 1 restrictions remaining in effect in much of the area.
For more on what is prohibited and allowed under Stage 1 restrictions, see www.PagosaSUN.com or check with each jurisdiction.
To report a suspected fire restriction violation or an active smoke plume, please call regional dispatch immediately at 911 or the non-emergency line at (970) 731-2160.
Bureau of Land Management
On July 22, it was announced that improved fire weather conditions and near containment on the Ferris Fire had prompted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials to ease fire restrictions and reopen public lands within the Tres Rios Field Office.
Effective July 22, Stage 2 fire restrictions were lifted on BLM-administered public lands managed by the Tres Rios Field Office, including Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.
Stage 1 fire restrictions will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, or until rescinded.
Archuleta County
On Thursday, July 23, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) announced it had, in collaboration with the Pagosa Fire Protection District, rescinded Stage 2 fire restrictions effective immediately.
The county remains under Stage 1 restrictions.
The ACSO urges everyone to download the WatchDuty App and sign up for Nixle Emergency Alerts to stay informed on local fire updates and active incidents.
For more information, visit the ACSO website at https://sheriff.archuletacounty.gov/.../fire-updates-and.../.
Town of Pagosa Springs
The following day, Friday, July 24, the Town of Pagosa Springs announced it had rescinded Stage 2 fire restrictions effective that day.
The town will remain under Stage 1 fire restrictions due to continued dry conditions and wildfire risk.
The restrictions were ordered by Town Manager David Harris pursuant to the town’s emergency authority and following consultation with the Pagosa Fire Protection District, the Archuleta County sheriff, and the Pagosa Springs chief of police, the town stated.
San Juan National Forest
On Wednesday, July 29, the San Juan National Forest announced it would be rescinding Stage 2 fire restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, July 30, on all National Forest System lands.
Stage 1 fire restrictions will remain in place for Zone 1 (lower elevations identified as Zone 1 in the order map).
See Forest Order and maps for more details at https://tinyurl.com/5n7xa779.
Monsoonal moisture
arrives, but drought
remains
According to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), areas in Archuleta County received from .91 inches to 3.15 inches of rain between July 15 and July 29.
Despite the recent rains, the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) remains in stage two drought restrictions, and the area remains in severe drought.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 100 percent of Archuleta County remained in severe drought as of July 21, with 1.90 percent of the county — the northeast corner — falling under extreme drought.
The week prior, 36.15 percent of the county fell under extreme drought.
In a Monday press release, District Engineer Justin Ramsey explains that water levels in Hatcher Lake are dropping very slowly due to the rains decreasing water use and evaporation.
He adds that levels in the San Juan River have remained steady due to the recent rains.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey water monitoring gauge at the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs and the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center, although the San Juan has remained at a very low but generally steady level, it did appear to hit record low levels several times over the last week.
According to the River Forecast Center, on July 24, the river hit about 19 cubic feet per second (cfs), below the 2002 low of 21. The following day, it hit about 17 cfs, below the 2002 low of 19 cfs.
On July 28 at 11:15 a.m., the river was recorded running at 15 cubic feet per second (cfs), 0.5 cfs above the previous record low set in 2002.
It appeared to hit another record low at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, when it registered at 15.5 cfs — below the low of 15.7 cfs set in 2002.
The river has approached record lows several other times this season, but has not reached them.
However, despite these improvements, Ramsey states that the combination of the San Juan River’s flows and the level of Hatcher still place the district in drought stage two.
Stage two drought restrictions for PAWSD aim to reduce water consumption by 20 to 30 percent and include several restrictions.
Irrigation using potable or nonpotable water is only allowed between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. on alternating weekdays based on address number. Weekend watering is prohibited.
Edible and ornamental gardens may be hand watered using a hose or with drip irrigation.
Restaurants are required to only serve water on request, and hotels are encouraged to only replace towels and bed linens for new guests or at the request of existing guests.
The drought stage also imposes a two times rate multiplier for residential water use above 4,000 gallons a month.
randi@pagosasun.com
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