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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • Go Code Colorado To Kick Off Its Seventh Year of Competition

    Go Code Colorado is a state-wide competition that challenges multidisciplinary teams to turn public data into useful business insights, analyses, and tools. Now in its 7th cycle, Go Code Colorado kicks off next month and features two tracks to compete in, (Business Application track and Business Analytics track) with $15,000 in available prize money for four winning teams.

    “Go Code Colorado is the nation’s only state-wide data competition, bringing entrepreneurs from every corner of our state together to help turn public data into useful tools for businesses throughout Colorado,” said Secretary of State Jena Griswold.  “I’m looking forward to seeing what the talented teams come up with in the 2020 competition!” 

    Apostrophe CTO and Co-Founder Kathy Keating, who was also a finalist judge in 2019, said, “Go Code Colorado inspires participants to solve problems to real issues. The missions, the social impacts these teams have is awesome. It’s incredibly inspiring to see the way they take raw public data and turn it into something meaningful to the world.”

    This event is an initiative of the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office’s Business Intelligence Center (BIC). BIC promotes economic growth across the state by making business-relevant data accessible and useable for informed decision-making. To date, BIC has published over 292 datasets for convenient public use.

    Over the past seven years, Go Code Colorado competitions have included over 900 team participants and almost 5,000 individuals from across the state including entrepreneurs, big thinkers, analysts, marketers, coders, and developers.

    The Competition will host kick-off events in Grand Junction and Denver where participants can find teammates, learn about the Challenge Statement and network with a community of people who believe in the power of public data.

    Kick Off #1

    Thursday, February 6th, 2020

    From 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at FACTORY at Maverick Innovation Center (CMU), 730 Mesa Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

    Kick Off #2

    Thursday, February 13th, 2020

    From 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Great Divide Brewery, Bottling Hall, 3403 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216.

    For a full schedule of events for Go Code Colorado, please visit www.gocodecolorado.com.

     

     

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  • Colorado Office of Early Childhood Awarded $33.5 Million Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal

    Colorado Office of Early Childhood Awarded $33.5 Million Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal

    DENVER — The Colorado Office of Early Childhood is pleased to announce it has received a Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) Renewal from the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and the US Department of Education.

    The grant provides $33.5 million over three years. Funds will support Colorado’s vision that all children are ready for school when entering kindergarten.

    Colorado Shines Brighter, the state’s PDG B-5 initiative, builds on initial grant activities to maximize the number of high-quality early care and education options available to families, especially families identified as vulnerable and underserved such as those living in rural areas, families of infants and toddlers, and families of children with special needs. 

    “Investing in early childhood education is a smart, responsible move for Colorado and young children across our state will benefit from this grant,” said Governor Jared Polis. “These important resources will help support my budget proposals to expand pre-school in Colorado and improve the quality of early childhood education. This grant will also support providers’ effective practices, better connect families to needed services, and prepare our children for the classroom and the future.”

    “We are incredibly excited to announce receipt of this award,” said Mary Anne Snyder, Director of the Office of Early Childhood. “This funding allows Colorado to build on what is working well for young children, their families, and their caregivers. Colorado Shines Brighter will help to make sure each community has the high-quality services and resources families need to make sure all children are healthy, valued and thriving, and ready for school when entering kindergarten.”

    Colorado Shines Brighter will provide significant support to children, parents and caregivers. This includes more support for early childhood providers to expand and enhance affordable services for infants and toddlers. The grant will also support the creation of tools and resources to help parents choose the right high-quality care and learning environment for their child and access additional supports for their child and family. Additionally, the number of professional development opportunities for the early childhood workforce will increase, including free and on-demand trainings and scholarships for learning opportunities. Finally, the award will allow for greater coordination and alignment among state and local organizations supporting children, families and early childhood professionals, and enhance information technology work to better facilitate data collection and reporting across the early childhood landscape in Colorado.

    About the Preschool Development Grant

    The Preschool Development Grant (PDG) program is a $275 million discretionary grant competition jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services and Education. The PDG is designed to strengthen state and local efforts to build, develop and expand high-quality preschool programs so that more children from low- and moderate-income families enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school. 

    About the Colorado Office of Early Childhood 

    The Office of Early Childhood provides resources for children, families and early care professionals to best prepare Coloradans for future success through access to collaborative, coordinated, quality early childhood programs and supports. The Office’s mission is to provide access to necessary supports to get all Colorado children ready for Kindergarten and reading by 3rd grade; to provide community and family access to services for optimal early childhood development; to create a coordinated system of early identification and intervention; to increase access to quality early learning for all children; to collaborate with partners to create a coordinated system; and to support continuous quality improvement.

     

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  • Gardner Announces Nearly $32M to Address Homelessness in Colorado

    Gardner Announces Nearly $32M to Address Homelessness in Colorado

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) announced today Colorado is receiving $31.8 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and HUD is designating a fourth Continuum of Care (CoC) in Colorado for Larimer and Weld counties.

    “Today I’m excited to announce that Colorado is receiving nearly $32 million in grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Continuum of Care Program, and I’m thrilled that HUD is establishing a fourth Continuum of Care, which will help us address the specific needs for Weld and Larimer counties,” said Senator Gardner. “Last July, I was honored to host Secretary Carson in Aurora to discuss Colorado’s affordable housing needs. I commend him for listening to us in Colorado, for hearing our unique needs, and for his willingness to help. This roughly $32 million in funding will go a long way to help the homeless population in our state, and I look forward to continuing our work together to address Colorado’s housing challenges and make it more affordable for everyone to call Colorado home.”

     “United Way of Weld County is thrilled that HUD is formally recognizing Larimer and Weld counties as a fourth Continuum of Care in the state of Colorado,” said Jeannine Truswell, President and CEO at United Way of Weld County. “We are grateful for the support of Senator Gardner and his team, whose efforts made this possible. This fourth Continuum of Care will allow us to better serve the specific needs of our communities in Larimer and Weld counties.”

     “The CoC will help to provide increased permanent housing resources to those most vulnerable across Larimer and Weld counties,” said Melanie Woolman, Director of Community Impact at United Way of Weld County. “All agencies involved in the CoC, and their clients will greatly benefit. This would not have happened without the support of Senator Gardner and the many nonprofit partners that have worked to achieve this accomplishment over the last several years.

     According to the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care, a Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local or regional planning body that is responsible for coordinating the funding and delivery of housing and services for people experiencing homelessness in its service area. CoCs maintain the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database, which is used to collect and report data on the characteristics of people experiencing homelessness and their service use patterns. Individual CoCs receive funding through HUD’s Continuum of Care Program, which is designed to promote a community-wide response to ending homelessness.

     There are more than 400 CoCs in the United States, and now four CoCs designated by HUD in Colorado:

     

    1. Pikes Peak CoC, which covers all of Colorado Springs and El Paso County,
    2. Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), which covers the seven-county metropolitan area surrounding Denver (including Boulder County),
    3. Northern Colorado Continuum of Care, which covers Larimer and Weld Counties, and, 
    4. Balance of State (BoS) CoC, which covers the remaining 54 counties outside of the three other CoCs.
    NOTE: Click the picture above to view Senator Gardner’s remarks.

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  • 2020 Ag Outlook and Strategy Forum for Producers

    2020 Ag Outlook and Strategy Forum for Producers

    (Burlington, Colo.) Producers know their costs of producing crops and livestock continue to be high while market prices are going down. As profits decrease or there are losses, producers may have difficulty securing operating loans or have to take money from the savings they accumulated over the past few years of good prices. What are they to do?

    Colorado State University Extension will host an Agriculture Outlook and Strategy Forum in Burlington on January 22nd. Producers participating in the forum will learn about the outlook for commodity prices, production costs for each area, and various strategies for being profitable when prices are low.

    Dr. Brent Young, CSU Agricultural and Business Management Economist will present current outlook information for commodities common to northeastern Colorado as well as the costs and returns for various commodities. He will also explore strategies, including developing marketing plans and utilizing crop insurance.

    The program is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22nd at the Community Center at 340 S. 14th Street and will be held from 9 am to noon. Lunch will be provided.

    Registration is required and the fee is $15. To register online go to https://2020agoutlook.eventbrite.com . Space is limited and the registration deadline is Friday, January 17th.

    For more information about the forum, please contact Brent Young at 970-522-7207 or by email at .

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  • Community Reach Center visits the Statehouse to ask legislators to increase access

    (Westminster, Colorado – Jan 10, 2020) – Community Reach Center will be at the state Capitol building on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CBHC) annual Lobby Day at the Capitol.

    This signature day for CBHC highlights the importance of Colorado’s community behavioral health system of which Community Reach Center is a part of. During meetings with legislators, Community Reach Center will discuss mental health and substance use disorder needs with the hope of gaining support for local efforts geared toward creating better direct care opportunities for all Coloradans.

    This year, Community Reach Center, which is a critical component of Colorado’s behavioral health safety-net system, will be focusing on the severe need to strengthen the system’s workforce through increased reimbursement, salaries, and retention strategies such as student loan forgiveness.

    Over the past 21 years, community provider inflationary increases have fallen so far behind that providers have lost more than 36.7 percent of their spending power as compared to the inflation rate across our state. Additionally, compared to state employee salary survey increases, community providers have lagged by 33.5 percent.

    As this issue has continued to worsen over the years, it has caused a shortage of behavioral health providers who serve our most vulnerable populations as safety- net providers cannot adequately compete with the broader healthcare industry. It is crucial that efforts be taken to close this funding gap.

    Community Reach Center will also be lobbying to increase opportunities to expand Mental Health First Aid, an eight-hour course which teaches the signs and symptoms of someone in a behavioral health crisis. Proposed legislation would appropriate funding to the Colorado Department of Education to contract for a train-the-trainer program designed to increase behavioral health training opportunities for K-12 educators and faculty. Community Reach Center is very pleased that this legislation will be a top priority as the bill, SB20-001, was the first to be introduced in the Senate in 2020.

    Community Reach Center looks forward to engaging with legislators during the first days of the 2020 legislative session to ensure that all Coloradans, including those Adams and Broomfield counties can access excellent and affordable behavioral health care across our great state.

     

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife promoting boating safety, responsible water recreation at 2020 Denver Boat Show

    DENVER, Colo. – The 2020 Denver Boat Show, Colorado’s largest boat show, takes place January 17 – 19 at the Colorado Convention Center and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be there promoting boating safety and responsible water recreation with educational information and fun activities.
     
    “Safety is key to enjoying Colorado’s many fantastic water opportunities,” said Grant Brown, CPW’s Colorado boating program manager. “We at Colorado Parks and Wildlife are excited to promote boating safety, specifically the importance of wearing a life jacket, and the importance of preserving water recreation and infrastructure through the invasive species program at the Denver Boat Show.”
     
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife is an exhibitor at the show. The CPW booth will showcase boat safety and the invasive species program. Highlights include cameos by Talon the red-tailed hawk boating safety mascot, information about watercraft inspection and decontamination, an iron-on T-shirt coloring station, free giveaways, and boat safety class information. 

    CPW is promoting boating safety, responsible water recreation at the 2020 Denver Boat Show.


     
    “Preventing the introduction and spread of zebra and quagga mussels and other invasive species is critical to providing outstanding water-based recreation in Colorado,” said Elizabeth Brown, CPW invasive species program coordinator. “We are grateful for the support of boaters and the Colorado Marine Dealers Association for their continued participation in the program.”
     
    CPW’s invasive species program has been very successful preventing infestations of invasive species ranging from zebra and quagga mussels to noxious weeds in bodies of water in Colorado. Aquatic invasive species negatively impact the aquatic ecosystem, fisheries, water-based recreation, and water supply and distribution systems for municipal, industrial and agricultural supply. The invasive species program needs the support of Colorado boaters and anglers who enjoy and benefit from clean water in Colorado. Learn more at the CPW website.

     

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  • Enhance Your Life Outdoors at the 2020 International Sportsmen’s Expo

    Enhance Your Life Outdoors at the 2020 International Sportsmen’s Expo

    Try something new, discover an unknown trail, and get advice on improving your outdoor experiences. 

     Denver, CO (January 3, 2020) –  A new adventure is down every aisle at the state’s largest annual consumer gathering for outdoor enthusiasts, the International Sportsmen’s Expo (ISE), held at the Colorado Convention Center from January 9 to 12, 2020.  ISE hosts a variety of hands on learning and practical tips from renowned experts on a myriad of outdoor activities including fly fishing, fly-tying, reel fishing, camping, hiking, off-roading, animal tracking, hunting, game calling, dog training, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, foraging and more.  Find your life at outdoors at the International Sportsmen’s Expo.  Here are a few unique outdoor activities guests can enjoy as well as expert guides:

    Shoot arrows at the Archery Experience with skill games to accommodate beginner to expert.  The knowledgeable staff at No Limits Archery is on hand to pair attendees with the right equipment and lessons they need to hit the target at the skeet shoot-style launcher.  Three separate archery games are open to the public.

    Meet “The Bug Guy”, Robert Younghanz, who’ll show and talk about local bugs in his manmade stream.  Learn to spot nature’s “tells” for yourself regarding the health of the stream and whether it’s a good fishing hole or not.  

    Explore the world of #VanLife and kick the tires of latest conversion-van styles and models complete with sinks, stoves, beds and plenty of storage for outdoor gear.  Plus, compare models of teardrop trailers, campers, tent toppers and RV’s.

    Cast the latest fly rods and watch pro-led demos at the Fly-Casting Pond, which hosts the Colorado Casting Contest on Sunday. At the nearby KASTKING Combo Pond, showgoers watch and get tips—on both fly and conventional gear—from pros Sandi and Clay Roberts.  Meet bass-fishing legend Jimmy Houston and watch him and local experts compete as teams of fly and conventional casters.

    The Fly-Fishing Theater presents local guides from Colorado talking about fishing local waters. At the Fly-Tying How-To Center, experts demonstrate the art and science of recreating nature. For anybody who fly fishes or wants to explore this fascinating and affective style of fishing, the Fly-Fishing Pavilion offers experts, activities, local shops.

     Catch a fish (and release it) at the Youth Fair and Colorado Outdoor Pavilion, hosted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  This area is filled with state experts on what, where and when, plus free activities for youth under 15, including catch-and-release trout pond, fly-tying, live raptors, RC-off road course, outdoor trail, plus interactive educational activities and rock-climbing wall.

    Improve your shot at new LASR Shooting Game.  This digital virtual shot game is free and open to the public.

    Learn canine first-aid, obedience and other valuable tips for better times with your fuzzy friend. Plus, new free-style dance at the Sporting Dog Arena presented by FORD.

    Get a photo with Wilder, mascot for Get Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)—part mountain goat, part yeti and all friend—who will be at ISE on Saturday (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 3 p.m.). And Wilder will stop by the sessions on camping with kids, led by Helen Olsson, author of The Down & Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30 p.m.) or adventuring as a family (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.).

    Acquire valuable outdoor survival skills (basic to advanced) from Lakewood-based husband and wife Matt and Brooke Wright, alums of Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid.  Learn to find fresh clean water using nature’s filter, where to find kindling in a bind and simple tracking tips to keep yourself safe on every outdoor adventure.

    Find your wild at the daily talks hosted by locals Donnelle Johnson and Lisa Thompson, who spotlight the adventures, bonding and comradery that arise on their all-female guided hunt trips.  These women celebrate the process more than the prize.

    Discover undiscovered trails and learn to forage for food at the Campfire Theater.  This intimate theater showcases Colorado’s diversity of recreation options. Get an insider’s look at which state parks to visit, where to camp, Colorado’s hiking trails, what gear is needed, foraging, family adventures, and how to be responsible stewards while enjoying the state’s incredible outdoor resources.

    The International Sportsmen’s Exposition opens to the public Thursday, January 9, 2020 and runs through Sunday, January 12, 2020 at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St. Denver, CO 80202).  Youth 15 and under are free; active military with ID, too.  Tickets to the event are $16 and can be purchased on site or online at SportsExpos.com. $10 parking with shuttles is available from Elitch Gardens.

     For more information, visit sportsexpos.com/attend/denver. Find photos, B-roll and logos at https://www.sportsexpos.com/contact/media.  Please use #YourLifeOutdoors and #SportsExpos.

     About International Sportsmen’s Expos:

    “ISE” was founded in 1975 in Eugene, Oregon as a boat show but quickly grew to much larger and diverse events across the West. The Denver expo launched in 1977, offering Coloradans and visitors from surrounding states the largest yearly event showcasing gear, local and world-recognized outdoor experts and destinations near and far.

    The International Sportsmen’s Exposition is sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, CBS4 Denver, Your Local Ford Store, The Know Outdoors, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, O’Reilly Auto Parts and 5280 Magazine.

     

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife will sponsor family activities at the 2020 Denver International Sportsmen’s Expo

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife will sponsor family activities at the 2020 Denver International Sportsmen’s Expo

    DENVER, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is coordinating the Youth Fair at the International Sportsmen’s Expo, where more than 500 companies pack three giant halls with fishing and hunting products, expert presentations, a variety of informational booths, and a new “Campfire Theater” that will offer tips and tricks for Colorado’s outdoors in a casual setting. The International Sportsmen’s Expo runs from January 9 – 12, 2020 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

    The Youth Fair will offer free activities geared toward young sportsmen and women, including live raptor demonstrations, a catch-and-release fishing pond (with free flies for kids who fish), and mini off-road racetrack. Don’t forget, youth under 16 enter the Expo for free!

    “We are excited to sponsor the Youth Fair at the International Sportsmen’s Expo . We think families will particularly enjoy our Leave No Trace Challenge Trail and kids fishing tank,” said CPW Interpretation and Wildlife Viewing Coordinator Mary McCormac. “Our goal is to provide activities that are not only fun and engaging, but also promote responsible and ethical outdoor behaviors.”

    Look for CPW signs near the food court located in the northwest corner of the exhibit floor. Some of CPW’s featured exhibits at the Youth Fair include:

    CPW Kids’ Leave No Trace Challenge Trail – Bring the kids! Join us for an indoor nature trail that teaches conservation and Leave No Trace principles. Take a “selfie ” in front of our beautiful state park backdrop, sponsored by the Friends of Colorado State Parks.

    New this year! Test your Leave No Trace knowledge on the Challenge Trail using your smartphone with the free Agents of Discovery app. Download the app before you or staff and volunteers will be on-site to help you.

    Kids fishing tank – Catch and release real fish. All rods, tackle and bait will be provided by CPW’s angler outreach program.

    Boating Safety – Color and make your own t-shirt that promotes the importance of wearing life vests when boating throughout Colorado. Also, be on the lookout for our Boating Safety Program mascot, Talon the red-tailed hawk, while exploring the show.
    Invasive species – Try your hand at the “Whac-A-Mussel” game and learn about invasive species in Colorado.

    Hatcheries – Check out our brand-new hatchery trailer and learn how and why we stock fish in waters across the state. Test your skills and tie your own fly to take home.
    CPW sales booth – Purchase CPW merchandise, Colorado Outdoors subscriptions and more.

    Hunter Education – Want to pass on your hunting heritage? Learn what it takes to become a hunter education instructor.

    CPW information center – Ask questions, learn about our 41 amazing state parks and see if the new transferable state parks pass is a fit for your household. Officers and staff will be on-hand to answer questions.

    CPW partner booths – Learn more about trail etiquette with Stay the Trail’s mini remote control truck course and other topics with Colorado Wildlife Federation, Outdoor Buddies, and the Raptor Education Foundation, which will have live birds as part of their educational booth.

    You can check out presentation dates and times at https://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/denver/schedules.

    Outdoor enthusiasts from Colorado and surrounding states attend the annual Denver International Sportsmen’s Expo. For more information about the expo visit CPW’s website at https://cpw.state.co.us/Pages/ISE.aspx or https://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/denver. A coupon for a $3 discount off adult admission to ISE is available at license agents statewide, CPW office locations and for download through CPW at https://cpw.state.co.us/Pages/ISE.aspx.

     

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  • New Colorado marijuana rules go into effect on January 1, 202

    New Colorado marijuana rules go into effect on January 1, 202

    Rules promulgated from the 2019 legislative session are the most extensive since retail marijuana was legalized in 2012.

    DENVER, Colo. December 31, 2019 — Marijuana rules stemming from the General Assembly’s 2019 legislative session go into effect on January 1, 2020 for all regulated marijuana businesses across Colorado, most notably allowing, for the first time, state licensing of hospitality establishments and the issuance of permits for residential delivery of medical marijuana. Final rules were adopted by the State Licensing Authority on November 5, 2019 after a summer of extensive stakeholder engagement led by the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED). 

    “Feedback from our stakeholders through work groups and public comment has always been a MED priority,” said Jim Burack, MED Director. “But this year, we encouraged an even more collaborative approach to rule development where work group participants utilized their experience and expertise within stakeholder teams to engage more directly in the drafting of rule language.”

    Highlights of notable key rules that go into effect on January 1 include:

    • Marijuana Hospitality Businesses (HB19-1230): 
      • Creation of two marijuana hospitality business licenses, subject to local jurisdiction approval, including 1) “Marijuana Hospitality Business” license (may be mobile), allowing consumption of marijuana on the licensed premises, and 2) “Retail Marijuana Hospitality and Sales Business” license (cannot be mobile) allowing for the sale and consumption of retail marijuana on the licensed premises.
      • MED will maintain a list of approved hospitality businesses on the Division’s website.
    • Regulated Marijuana Delivery (HB19-1234):
      • Creation of a permit to allow delivery of regulated marijuana to private residences from medical marijuana stores, subject to local jurisdiction approval. 
      • Delivery to private residences from retail marijuana stores begins on January 1, 2021, also subject to local jurisdiction approval.
    • Sunset Regulated Marijuana (SB19-224):
      • The Retail Code and Medical Code are integrated to create a single code, which will streamline operations for both regulators and businesses.
      • Criminal history disqualification provisions are amended so that felony convictions within the past three years will typically preclude licensing as an owner or employee.  
      • Industrial hemp can be used in the manufacture of marijuana products and sold in retail marijuana stores. Prior to this legislation, the sale of  industrial hemp products by licensed marijuana businesses was limited to medical marijuana stores. Beginning July 1, 2020, industrial hemp used by medical and retail marijuana manufacturers and sold in medical and retail stores will be subject to testing and can only be sourced from persons registered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
      • Retail and medical marijuana stores and hospitality establishments can collect marijuana consumer waste for purposes of reuse and recycling. This includes containers, packages, and cartridges, among other waste components left after the marijuana is consumed.
    • Other notable rule changes:
      • Vitamin E Acetate, Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT Oil) are expressly prohibited for use in the manufacture of regulated marijuana concentrate or regulated marijuana products intended for inhalation. Read more here.
      • In an effort to further simplify the licensing process, there are now only two (instead of three) license categories for individuals working in the regulated marijuana industry: 1) owner and 2) employee.   

    To view the Colorado Marijuana Rules, 1 CCR 212-3, in its entirety, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/enforcement/med-rules. 

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  • With the Quadrantid meteor shower peaking this weekend, Jackson Lake State Park has the dark skies for a dazzling display

    With the Quadrantid meteor shower peaking this weekend, Jackson Lake State Park has the dark skies for a dazzling display

    The International Meteor Organization (IMO) is projecting that the Quadrantid meteor shower will peak around 1 a.m. Saturday. AccuWeather predicts that most of Colorado, including the eastern plains, will have good viewing conditions for the shower. And Jackson Lake State Park offers up the dark skies to showcase it all.

    By Amy Brandenburg, Park Ranger at Jackson Lake State Park

    ORCHARD, Colo. – Ralph Waldo Emerson probably said it best, “The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us.” 

    Venturing from Denver and the metro area, the sky is clouded with an orange haze and inorganic glow. However, once on the eastern plains of Colorado, a traveler can pull the car over on a country road, get out, look up and be astounded at the beautiful sights that encompass the sky above him. This is one of the very unique things about living outside of the city, which most people forget about, because their eyes are looking down at their phones. 

    Morgan County has exceptionally dark skies once you journey away from our still quiet towns onto a county road. We should consider ourselves lucky to still be one of the few places our children can look up and see the big dipper, or even the Milky Way on a clear night.

    Jackson Lake State Park is taking these dark skies one step further. The park was awarded two separate grants – $3,500 from the Colorado Parks Foundation and $20,000 from the Director’s Innovation Grant – to fund a “Dark Skies Initiative.” 

    This project consists of eliminating and changing out lights inside and outside all buildings on the park to be “dark skies friendly.” This means that lights are fully shielded, point straight down and have a color temperature less than 3000 kelvins. Bathroom buildings will also have sensors inside, so that lights are not staying on all evening. 

    Aside from causing less light pollution for night sky viewing, research has shown that this specific type of lighting is less harmful to wildlife that migrate in the night. Some birds even rely on stars for their migration path. Studies have also found that increased lighting has little to no effect on decreasing crime rates. Additionally, having dark areas is also known to help people reset their circadian rhythm, which is the biological clock that relies on the daily cycles of lightness and darkness; more on these topics to follow in upcoming articles. 

    Jackson Lake is not alone in this lighting feat; they are also working with Morgan County Rural Electric Association to remove the large light poles at the park to increase opportunities to see those beautiful stars above. 

    Since the lighting will be so minimal at Jackson Lake State Park, it will become an even more significant place to visit during unique celestial and lunar events. One of Jackson Lake’s frequent amateur astronomers stated, “I drive out twice a month to get away from the city’s light dome, so I can enjoy the night sky in such a way that is impossible to do in Denver. You can actually see the Milky Way.”

    Photo by Nora Logue

    The grants also affords the park the opportunity to acquire a new telescope to use while hosting educational and interpretive programs for the public. Guests can expect several experts in the field to share their knowledge, as well, at certain times of the year.

    Furthermore, in the evenings, rangers will be educating campers to “light their site, not the night.” Many new RVs and motor homes have large amounts of exterior lights, which are generally unnecessary, use excess energy and can cause neighboring campers to have a limited view of the night sky. 

    By making these changes, Jackson Lake State Park is hoping to gain the accreditation of an “International Dark Skies Place” from the IDA (International Dark Skies Association). If the title is granted, Jackson Lake State Park will be the only state park in Colorado, and the only accredited place in Colorado east of I-25 to be certified. 

    It is a very exciting endeavor for Jackson Lake State Park, an endeavor they hope will create a new unique reason to visit Morgan County.

     

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