Category: Front Page

Issued for eastern Colorado

Issued at 8:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 9, 2021

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected Area:  Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Morgan, Washington, Yuma, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Teller, El Paso, Pueblo, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, Bent, Prowers, Huerfano, Las Animas, and Baca Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Sterling, Julesburg, Holyoke, Fort Morgan, Akron, Wray, Kiowa, Hugo, Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Pueblo, Ordway, Eads, La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar, Walsenburg, Trinidad, and Springfield.

Advisory in Effect:  8:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 9, 2021 to 9:00 AM MDT, Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors.  This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly.  Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present.  Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill.  If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

Outlook:  Heavy smoke from California wildfires will continue to move into Colorado and spread across the plains of eastern Colorado throughout the day on Monday and into Tuesday morning.  Expect the heaviest smoke impacts in sheltered valley locations where atmospheric mixing is more limited. Some clearing is anticipated in areas of southern Colorado on Monday and Tuesday, however residual health impacts may linger from prolonged exposure to elevated smoke concentrations.

For the latest Smoke Outlook, visit:
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/addendum.aspx#smoke

For more information about smoke and your health, visit:
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx

For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit:
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

Social Media:
http://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
http://twitter.com/cdpheapcd

Due to a building heating and cooling issue, Arapahoe County Public Works and Development’s Lima Plaza office (6924 S. Lima St., Centennial) will be closed to the public Aug. 4- 6, 2021. Many services can be accessed online. The office will reopen during normal business hours on Monday, Aug. 9. If you need immediate assistance, please contact the appropriate Public Works and Development work group. www.arapahoegov.com/publicworks

DENVER (AP) _ Numerous areas of the U.S. West and Midwest were under air quality alerts on Sunday as wildfire smoke lingered over much of the country.

Alerts were in place across much of the northern U.S. Rockies, including portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Washington state and Idaho.

Further to the east, smoke from fires burning into Canada triggered pollution alerts in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Wildfires emit huge volumes of microscopic smoke particles that researchers say can be harmful if breathed in and lead to both immediate and long-term health impacts. Children, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are particularly at risk.

BRIGHTON, Colo. – Barr Lake State Park is holding a Ladies Fly Fishing 101 clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 5:30-8 p.m. This is a class for beginners and all ages are welcome. Park staff is providing all the equipment necessary along with the instruction. To register for the event, please click here. See what other events Barr Lake State Park is hosting by visiting its Facebook page. For a full listing of other clinics, seminars and courses offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, please visit our website.

DENVER – The big (game) day is almost here! Hunters mark their calendars for the first Tuesday in August each year to take a shot at any big game hunting licenses remaining after the primary and secondary draws. These remaining licenses are placed on the leftover list, now available on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, and become available for purchase on August 3 at 9 a.m. Mountain Time. New this year, over-the-counter licenses for elk, bear, pronghorn, and deer will also go on sale at this time. CPW highly suggests hunters purchase their leftover licenses online this year. If you must go into a CPW office or a sales agent location to purchase a license, remember to bring a mask, respect public health orders and all staff requests. Additionally, hunters who are used to going into a CPW office location should be aware that the licenses now go on sale online, over the phone at 1-800-244-5613, in our offices and at our sales agents all at once. If you’re on a computer or mobile device at home, you have the same shot as someone standing in a CPW office. Licenses that will become available include: Limited licenses left over after the primary and secondary draws for elk, deer, pronghorn and bear Limited licenses that were drawn in the primary or secondary draw, but not paid for by the payment deadline for elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and moose Limited licenses that were returned for refund/preference point/surrender prior to July 26 and took fewer than 5 points to draw Over-the-counter (OTC) licenses for elk, pronghorn, deer, and bear Changes to Purchasing a Leftover License in 2021 Starting in 2021, CPW is implementing a process called “Inventory Hold,” which is similar to how tickets for events are sold online. When you enter a hunt code and confirm it, that hunt code is “held” for you in the cart for 15 minutes or until you process the transaction, whichever comes first. On CPWshop.com, there will be a timer in the upper left corner of the screen that will let you know how long you have to finish processing your transaction, as well as pop-ups with 5 minutes left and when the time has expired. If the time is allowed to expire, another customer can hold/purchase that hunt code. Please note that you may still see the quota available on the leftover list, even if all the quota for that particular hunt code has already sold out. That is because the leftover list only updates every 5 – 10 minutes. Queuing system for license purchases As in past years, CPW’s licensing vendor Aspira will be utilizing a virtual queuing program, called Queue-It, to mitigate the load on the system. While products go on sale at 9 a.m., customers who are on the site and logged in prior to 9 a.m. can begin their purchases as long as they are no farther in the process than the residency page. Purchasing process Head to cpwshop.com and get logged in to your account before 9 a.m. on August 3 so you’re ready to purchase when the licenses go on sale. You can also call 1-800-244-5613, but know that there may be long wait times. More information on the leftover list and over-the-counter licenses is available on the CPW website.

DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife will celebrate Colorado Day, Monday, Aug. 2 by offering free entrance at all 42 state parks. Free entrance at the state parks is an annual Colorado Day tradition. Although the state celebrates its 145th birthday on Aug. 1, state parks will only offer free entrance on Aug. 2. “Colorado Day is an opportunity for everyone to get outside and experience the diverse natural beauty and recreational activities that all of the 42 state parks have to offer,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “This day is also the agency’s opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all of our residents and visitors who enjoy our state parks for their continued support.” All other fees, including camping and reservations will remain in effect on Aug. 2. Come play all day, enjoy a picnic and stay for the sunset. This Colorado Day, be sure to get out to a state park for a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy. CPW manages 42 state parks, more than 350 state wildlife areas, all of Colorado’s wildlife, and a variety of outdoor recreation. Visit CPW’s websitefor more information about Colorado Day and ideas on which park to visit on August 2.

DENVER — As part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Central 70 Project, the westbound Interstate 70 full closure from I-270 to Colorado Boulevard, originally scheduled for this weekend, is postponed due to forecasted thunderstorms and rain throughout the weekend. 

This closure will now take place starting 10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 6, to 5 a.m., Aug. 9, so crews can place final pavement on westbound I-70. 

This marks the last one-directional full weekend closure in the center segment between Colorado Boulevard and Quebec Street. 

Closing a stretch of I-70 to complete all of the paving over a weekend eliminates months of nightly lane closures. It also ensures the road will be smoother and safer, as there will be less seams in the asphalt.

Come Monday, Aug. 9, traffic will be in its final alignment in the center segment with some additional punch list items that crews will work to finish throughout the summer. By fall, crews will have completed eight miles of the 10-mile Project.    

TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

• Westbound I-70 from I-270 to Colorado Boulevard will be closed from 10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 6, through 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 9.

This work is weather and site-condition dependent and is subject to change. Follow the Project on Facebook at facebook.com/central70project for the latest information.

Detour map: 

 

About CDOT

CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely — and our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety for all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options. 

About the Central 70 Project

The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70, add one new Express Lane in each direction, remove the aging 57-year-old viaduct and lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards. More information on the Project, including a list of the Project’s community commitments, are available at central70.codot.gov.

 

Stay Informed

• Text Alerts: Text Central70 to 77948
• Email Updates: Sign up for Project updates at c70.codot.gov 
• Website: c70.codot.gov – Traffic Impacts page 
• Watch progress on the project webcam