Pagosa Springs Daily Digest Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Ty's Take
The Swiss Roll Fire sitting at 88 percent contained while PAWSD lifts drought restrictions in the same news cycle tells you something about how precarious things still are around here. We're not out of the woods yet, literally or figuratively, and the forest service closing seasonal campgrounds comes at exactly the right moment even if it stings the late-summer tourism crowd. The rain that kept things from getting worse came late enough that we nearly didn't make it, which is the kind of reminder that sticks with you when you're trying to plan water policy or next year's fire season. Good news deserves celebrating, but it shouldn't let us forget how close we ran it this time around.
Sponsor Slot AvailableReach Pagosa Springs Locals Every MorningGet your business in front of engaged local readers. Boat dealers, realtors, restaurants, contractors, home services your audience is reading this right now.Become a Sponsor
Pagosa Springs SUN
PAWSD ends drought restrictions
The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District ended its mandatory drought restrictions on September 28 following recent heavy precipitation and improved water conditions throughout the region. The San Juan River is flowing well above normal levels, Lake Hatcher is receiving water again and rising,...
Seasonal closures begin for national forest campgrounds
The San Juan National Forest has begun seasonal closures of some campgrounds and reduced services for fall and winter. Visitors should check the San Juan National Forest's camping webpage or contact the Pagosa Ranger District before visiting to learn which sites remain open and what services are...
Swiss Roll Fire 88 percent contained
The Swiss Roll Fire is now 88 percent contained, with scattered remaining heat detected primarily in downed timber and burning stumps that can retain heat for weeks. The uncontained 12 percent of perimeter is on the northeast side of the fire, and fire managers warn that while conditions look...
San Juan Stargazers to meet Oct. 1
The San Juan Stargazers will meet October 1 at 6 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church at 434 Lewis St. to discuss new black holes discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope in a program designed for general audiences. The group is also planning a public star party near Hatcher Lake on...
Fashion meets purpose: Runway for Rise set to return for fourth year
Rise Above Violence's fourth annual Runway for Rise Recycled Fashion Gala on October 3 will feature ten teams transforming thrift-store finds and unconventional materials into runway fashion while fundraising to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. This year's event includes a new...
Sponsor Slot AvailableReach Pagosa Springs Locals Every MorningGet your business in front of engaged local readers. Boat dealers, realtors, restaurants, contractors, home services your audience is reading this right now.Become a Sponsor
Pagosa Daily Post
EDITORIAL: Your PAWSD Bill Going Up? Part Two
The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District faces a significant budget challenge for 2027, with a projected $1.6 million shortfall between required debt service coverage and projected net operating revenue. The district has experienced slower than anticipated growth in new construction revenue...
Congress Struggles with Policies Rippling from AI Development
Congress remains gridlocked on artificial intelligence policy as the Senate prepares to vote on a relatively limited measure addressing electricity costs from data centers, while AI researchers warn of existential threats and a Pew survey shows 71 percent of Americans worry AI will cause...
READY, FIRE, AIM: Actually, We Don’t Need the Rain
Recent heavy September rainfall in the area, while providing water needed after drought conditions, has created immediate problems including the closure of County Road 500 due to flood damage and a county disaster declaration. The commentary suggests that late-season rain brings more hazards than...
Colorado Awards Nearly $170 Million to Rural Healthcare Providers
Colorado is directing nearly $170 million in Rural Health Transformation Program grants to rural healthcare providers across the state to support access to care, strengthen maternal health services, and develop the healthcare workforce. The highly competitive program selected 91 applicants for...
Join LPEA on October 13 for ‘CommunityPowerX’ Event in Durango
La Plata Electric Association will host a CommunityPowerX event on October 13 at the Durango Arts Center to update members on the cooperative's first six months of local power supply independence and discuss home battery storage and wildfire resilience. The event includes board engagement, expert...
County Road 500 Closed Near Arboles
Archuleta County has closed County Road 500 5.5 miles east of its intersection with Highway 151 due to road damage, with barricades set by Road and Bridge staff.
LETTER: Don’t Punish Kids for School Absences
A retired teacher argues that schools should stop penalizing students for tardies and absences, suggesting that educators should focus on welcoming students when they arrive rather than enforcing strict attendance policies. The writer advocates for trusting parents' judgment about their children's...
LETTER: Jeff Hurd Betrays Us with a Smile
A letter criticizes Congressional Representative Jeff Hurd's votes for healthcare cuts and SNAP benefit reductions, arguing that his support for policies eliminating ACA subsidies and reducing Medicaid coverage will harm thousands of working families and children in Colorado. The writer calls for...
OPINION: Fighting for Clean Air and Water
A Colorado activist describes the fight to protect Aurora Reservoir from oil and gas development, noting that federal leasing rules allow corporations to nominate public lands for drilling with minimal local input and that the Trump administration has proposed cutting public comment periods from 90...
Rural News Wire is a daily local news digest for Pagosa Springs and rural America. We aggregate and curate, original reporting belongs to the sources linked above. Support local journalism by visiting their sites.
Subscribe free to get this digest in your inbox every morning.