Daily Digest

Alamosa Daily Digest Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Ty McDuffey

14 Jul 2026 — 2 min read

Ty's Take

That quote about consequences—somebody was talking about water, or they should've been. Out here you don't get to say much without the Rio Grande listening, and every word about "doing nothing" carries weight in a place where doing nothing means your neighbor's ditch runs dry come August. The Gold Mountain Fire taking a helicopter pilot is the kind of loss that stops you cold, reminds you that fighting fire in a valley at 7,500 feet isn't theory, and Stampede wrapping up means the summer calendar's already starting its turn toward fall. That's how time moves in Alamosa—fast enough that you blink and another season's gone, but slow enough that you remember exactly what you lost along the way.

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Valley Courier

‘The consequences of doing nothing are much more drastic and draconian than the consequences of this plan’

State Engineer Jason Ullman told Water Court on Monday that implementing a new water management plan poses less hardship than taking no action on the Upper Rio Grande Basin's water crisis. Groundwater irrigators in the region face economic challenges under the Fourth Amended Plan, but Ullman argued...

Stampede 2026: It’s a wrap

The Ski Hi Stampede wrapped up another successful year with large crowds enjoying Chase Rice's concert performance, packed rodeo events, and two days of parades that drew the valley together. The celebration of community spirit continues next weekend with Manassa Pioneer Days.

UPDATE: Helicopter pilot killed at Gold Mountain Fire

A helicopter pilot was killed Sunday while fighting the Gold Mountain Fire in Gunnison County when a KMAX aircraft crashed near Silver Jack Reservoir during a water-refill operation. The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office recovered the pilot's body late Sunday, with the victim's identity pending...

THE MONDAY BRIEFING | July 13, 2026

The Upper Rio Grande Basin's unconfined aquifer has emerged as a critical issue in ongoing Water Court proceedings, with some experts suggesting the region needs substantial rainfall to prevent a crisis. Current conditions remain dry in mid-July with moderate temperatures, raising concerns about...

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