Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Thursday, September 17, 2026
Ty's Take
The fire restrictions are lifting and the Swiss Roll is finally backing off, which means we can all take a breath we've been holding since summer. But the real story isn't the relief, it's that we've spent the last few months doing something right: we listened to the Forest Service about prescribed burns, we tracked what the BLM's planning to do with fuel reduction, we read the science on what wildfire actually does to these mountains, and we didn't just complain into the wind. That's the conversation worth having now, before the next dry year arrives. Because it will arrive, and when it does, we'll be the ones who either acted or didn't.
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Weather Alerts
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued September 17 at 5:43AM MDT until September 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...A portion of southwest Colorado, including the following areas, Animas River Basin, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River, Northwest San Juan Mountains, San Juan River Basin and Southwest San Juan Mountains. * WHEN...Thr...
Pagosa Springs SUN
September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a time when the National Alliance on Mental Illness urges communities to break the silence around mental health crises. According to the CDC, suicide claimed nearly 49,000 lives in 2024, with millions more experiencing suicidal thoughts or attempts....
Looking Back: September 17, 2026
This article contains a brief historical note but lacks substantive content to summarize.
Historical records from the Pagosa Springs SUN archives reveal local life a century ago, including the near-completion of San Andres Catholic church in Juanita in 1926, unusual garden specimens grown by area residents, and a logger's serious injury. Fifty years later, in 1951, the Pagosa Rod and...
CSU Pueblo, GOAL High School launch direct admissions partnership
Colorado State University Pueblo and GOAL High School have partnered to offer direct admissions to qualifying graduates, eliminating the traditional application process for students with a 2.3 GPA or higher starting in 2026-2027. Under the agreement, accepted students receive no-fee admission and...
Town, county, forest lift fire restrictions
The Town of Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County Sheriff's Office, and San Juan National Forest have all lifted Stage 1 fire restrictions as of mid-September following widespread rainfall and cooler temperatures. While outdoor fires are now permitted, agencies remind residents to remain vigilant about...
Fire behavior lessens on Swiss Roll Fire, closure implemented
Recent rainfall has slowed the 777-acre Swiss Roll Fire, which began in the San Juan National Forest east of Pagosa Springs on August 20 and rapidly grew following hot, dry weather and strong winds in mid-September. Fire managers are using an indirect containment strategy due to hazardous dead...
Examining the history, ecological effects of wildfire
Low-intensity wildfires are essential to forest health in Southwest Colorado, naturally burning through accumulated debris and dead wood every few decades to prevent catastrophic crown fires. Decades of fire suppression have allowed dangerous fuel buildup of shrubs and dead trees, while...
BLM plans prescribed burns to reduce wildfire risk
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service will conduct prescribed burns on roughly 976 acres of federal land in Southwest Colorado between mid-September and November to reduce wildfire risk. Burning locations include approximately 700 acres in Cabezon Canyon on Bureau of Indian Affairs land south of Chimney...
Final plans for Healing Waters renovation approved by town’s Design Review Board
The Pagosa Springs Planning Commission approved final design plans for a two-phase redevelopment of Healing Waters Resort and Spa at 140 Hot Springs Boulevard. Phase one, beginning late this year, will consolidate lots and improve landscaping and utilities, while phase two (expected around 2028)...
National Preparedness Month: Make a plan before an emergency
September is National Preparedness Month, and Archuleta County residents should prepare for emergencies given the area's geography and limited evacuation routes that can quickly become impassable during storms. County residents are encouraged to sign up for Nixle alerts (text 81147 to 888777),...
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Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: Higher Taxes Coming to Cloman Industrial Park? Part Three
An Archuleta County editorial examines a 2022 failed sales tax increase that voters rejected by nearly 3-to-1 margin despite county commissioners' focus on road maintenance and a paid polling company's prediction of 62% support. The piece raises questions about whether the Pagosa Springs Community...
Sandbags Available for Archuleta County Residents
Sandbags and sand are available for pickup at the Archuleta County Road and Bridge Department at 1122 Highway 84 to help residents protect property from flooding. Residents must bring their own shovels and fill bags themselves to half to two-thirds capacity with clean sand to ensure proper sealing...
Pagosa Peak Open School Celebrates ‘Performance Ranking’
Pagosa Peak Open School, the district's only K-8 charter school, earned the highest rating from the Colorado Department of Education on its 2026 performance report as it enters its tenth year. The tuition-free school celebrates achievement growth in both elementary and middle grades through its...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Still Dreaming of Fusion
This opinion column explores the physics of nuclear fusion and the long-standing scientific challenge of achieving controlled fusion reactions for practical energy generation. The author notes that while uncontrolled fusion (hydrogen bombs) was successfully demonstrated in 1952, solving the problem...
ESSAY: A Young Generation Living in Fear
Immigration enforcement actions have created widespread fear and health crises among immigrant children and families across the United States since 2025, according to this essay examining the psychological and physical toll on young people. Approximately 205,000 children have at least one parent...
Colorado Educators Can Get Homebuying Help Through New State Program
Colorado's new Schools to Home program, launched July 1, provides down payment and closing cost assistance to public school employees buying homes for the first time. The program aims to address teacher shortages and retention by helping educators afford homeownership, with eligible participants...
INTEL FROM THE IVORY TOWER: Most Democracies Allow Mail Voting
Research from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance shows that more than 30 countries worldwide permit mail-in voting, contradicting claims that the United States is the only nation using this method. Countries allowing universal mail-in voting include Canada, Germany,...
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