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Colorado - Tue. 08/25/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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ENTRY TO COLORADO NATIONAL PARKS, MONUMENTS FREE ON TUESDAY
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Entry to Colorado’s national parks and monuments will be free on Tuesday to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service. Originally created on Aug. 25, 1916, the National Park Service’s purpose is to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” Colorado is home to four national parks — Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison — and an additional 13 national monuments, trails and historic sites that are overseen by the National Park Service. All of those will be accessible for free this week.
The National Park Service’s birthday celebration is part of a bigger National Park Week, which includes themed days through Sunday, such as Watch Wildlife Wednesday and Freedom Friday. Can’t make it this week? Entry to these sites will also be free on Sept. 17 in honor of Constitution Day, Oct. 27 in honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day.
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COLORADO'S FAT MARMOT WEEK PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON THE ALPINE RODENTS
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Last winter was tough for marmots living high in the Colorado mountains, where researchers say two-thirds of one population died while hibernating because of insufficient snow cover. This year’s snowpack was the worst on record in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which includes Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. Those that survived are doing well, fattening up in time not just for fall and hibernation season, and the very first Fat Marmot Week. Just like Fat Bear Week, an online contest to vote for Alaskan brown bears plumped up for winter, Fat Marmot Week, which began Monday, is mostly just for fun, but it also has a serious side: Scientists need to drum up donations for their long-running research into the rodents to keep it going through federal funding cuts.
A marmot is a cat-sized, furry ground squirrel that lives in burrows in North America, Europe and Asia. The 15 or so species worldwide include groundhogs, which have their own special day, Feb. 2, in the U.S. and Canada. In the Rocky Mountains, yellow-bellied marmots are plentiful. Like people, marmots have personalities and are “flexibly social,” meaning some like to intermingle in colonies of up to 30 animals while others prefer solitude. Voting opened Monday. Researchers have also been posting marmot videos to the OnlyFans adult content platform. To capitalize on the attention those posts have garnered, a "super fan" created a meme coin, a type of cryptocurrency, called $OnlyMarms, and donates transaction fees to the research program. That alone has raised around $100,000. The team needs to bank three years of funding — over $200,000 — to ensure marmot research can continue next summer. To vote, and donate, visit the link below.
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NEVADA SUES TRUMP ADMIN OVER COLORADO RIVER CUTS
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On Monday, the state of Nevada filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, seeking to block the Colorado River management plan. On Friday, Burgum released a “record of decision” that would reduce water allocations to California, Nevada and Arizona, the Lower Basin states of the Colorado River. The record of decision, according to the lawsuit, would take away 71 percent of the 300,000 acre-feet of water Nevada currently receives annually from the Colorado River. That water almost entirely goes to the Las Vegas Valley. The Upper Basin states — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — were spared cuts, but the Bureau of Reclamation, which controls Lake Mead and manages water deliveries in the Lower Basin, doesn’t have comparable authority to impose reductions on the Upper Basin.
The state of Nevada, the Colorado River Commission of Nevada and the Southern Nevada Water Authority argue in their lawsuit the Interior Dept. violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the “law of the river” established in the 1922 Colorado River Compact. The record of decision said there would be reductions in water delivered to the Lower Basin states of 1.25 million acre-feet annually for two years. Arizona would lose 760,000 acre-feet; California, which has the most senior rights, would lose 440,000 acre-feet; and Nevada would lose 50,000 acre-feet. In addition, the three Lower Basin states would “voluntarily” contribute and store another 700,000 acre-feet in that same time period. An acre-foot is the volume of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot — roughly 362,000 gallons.
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COLORADO REQUESTS AID FOR ASPEN ACRES, GOLD MTN. FIRES FROM TRUMP ADMIN
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Gov. Jared Polis sent a request for federal aid Sunday for two of Colorado’s major wildfires this summer, hoping the Trump administration will end its pattern of withholding support for the state. The Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires caused over $18 million in damage to public infrastructure, like electricity and water systems. They also led to damaging flooding, and debris flows on the burn scars that claimed one life. Colorado’s entire Congressional delegation, Republicans and Democrats alike, sent a joint letter supporting the request to the Trump administration Monday. Polis and state officials have asked the federal government to declare the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires to be a major disaster, which would acknowledge the scope of the damage and allow the state to tap into federal assistance programs.
These programs offer everything from money to legal assistance and debris removal. But federal aid programs come with requirements, and not every emergency qualifies. States also have to prove that responding to the fires is beyond state and local capabilities and that federal help is necessary. Colorado’s request will need further recommendations by different federal officials before landing on the president’s desk. At that point, Trump would decide whether to declare a major disaster on his own timeline. Since Aug. 1, 2025, Colorado has requested two major disaster declarations, for the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in southwestern Colorado, both of which were denied. Colorado appealed, and the Trump administration denied the appeals in April.
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FIREFIGHTERS MAKE PROGRESS AGAINST A NEVADA WILDFIRE THAT DESTROYED MORE THAN 30 HOMES
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Crews have started to contain a wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Reno, Nevada, that destroyed more than 30 homes as it spread perilously close to dense neighborhoods. Containment reached 27 percent and there was no new growth of the Hawk Fire, which has held steady at about 23 square miles (since it burned out of control on Sunday. The number of residents under evacuation orders and warnings was reduced to about 63,000, down from more than 90,000 people when the blaze mushroomed over the weekend. While winds have eased, there’s still concern that gusts could push the flames through dry brush into newly developed neighborhoods in Nevada’s largest city outside of metro Las Vegas.
At least 32 homes have burned and six are damaged, but authorities said those numbers are sure to rise as assessment teams begin to survey the charred areas. Schools across Washoe County were closed Monday because of the evacuations and to keep roads clear for emergency crews. Nevada’s governor declared a state of emergency in the county and mobilized the National Guard to help with aerial firefighting and protecting evacuated neighborhoods northwest of downtown Reno. The fire near the California state line began Saturday and exploded in size on Sunday. At least seven people — three first responders and four civilians — have been injured. This is the third large wildfire in the rugged terrain north of Reno in the past two weeks — all caused by human activity.
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BOULDER RESTAURANT NAMED ONE OF THE BEST NEW EATERIES IN THE U.S.
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Casa Juani, a Spanish restaurant located at 901 Pearl St. in Boulder that debuted in February, was named one of the best new restaurants in America by Bon Appétit Magazine in its 2026 list published Monday. The restaurant was the only Colorado restaurant to make the list. Founded and owned by Chefs Eduardo Valle Lobo and Kelly Jeun, the restaurant is made to tell the story of Valle Loo’s Spanish heritage and his 98-year-old mother Juani’s cooking. Valle Lobo has been a chef in five countries and has worked with several cuisines. Notably, Valle Lobo is the culinary director for Frasca Hospitality Group, the company behind James Beard-winning restaurants Frasca Food and Wine, Tavernetta and Osteria Alberico.
A total of 19 restaurants were named to the list this year. At Casa Juani, guests can find a seafood-driven marisquería with coastal specialties and other regional dishes, such as piki-piki, pescadi, or Spanish salt cod and marisquería, which is a raw meal featuring razor clams, sea urchin and jamon iberico. The 100-seat restaurant also offers a selection of Spanish wines along with wines from Portugal, France, Italy and American producers. Local beers, vermouth, cider and Spanish cocktails are also available. Last year, highly awarded chef Johnny Curiel’s Michelin-starred Mezcaleria Alma was named to the list.
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18,000 GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE ENTER ANIMAS RIVER NEAR AZTEC
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A storm drain leak Monday morning led to 18,000 gallons of raw sewage entering the Animas River on the southwest side of Aztec. The city was made aware of it at 7 a.m. and crews from Aztec public works, the city of Bloomfield and Sychar LLC and Tri Energy Services were on-site at the Hartman Park Lift Station by 8:30 a.m. The city estimated 18,000 gallons of raw sewage entered the storm drain before it was covered, and approximately 900 more gallons entered the storm drain while it was covered, before the vacuum truck arrived to start pumping out the raw sewage.
The Office of Emergency Management was notified of the incident, and Emergency Management Director Mike Mestas said he notified water users along the ditch. That included Flora Vista Water Users, the city of Farmington, and Lower Valley Water Users in Kirtland. The city of Farmington was on ditch rotation, so the river pumps into Lake Farmington were “shut off.” The state engineer also was notified and “just asked the irrigation ditch to shut down for 24 hours.”
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VAIL SYMPOSIUM TO HOST ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST CELEBRATED HISTORIANS ON TUESDAY
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The Vail Symposium has existed for more than 50 years and has featured prominent guests like Robert Redford and Gerald R. Ford, so it would be an overstatement to say this week’s event will be the biggest in its history. But Tuesday’s Vail Symposium, featuring writer Doris Kearns Goodwin, will certainly be the most celebrated event the Symposium has held in years, as few scholars can claim the accolades that she has. In 1967, at 24 years old, Goodwin danced with President Lyndon B. Johnson before he told her she would be selected to work directly for him in the White House. She was the first woman to be allowed to see the inside of the Boston Red Sox locker room in 1979. Her book “No Ordinary Time” won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1995. She was with Tom Brokaw on NBC News when he called the election for George W. Bush in 2000.
Part of her book “Team of Rivals” was adapted into the screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s 2012 film “Lincoln,” considered to be one of the best films of his career. And in 2016 Goodwin played herself on The Simpsons. Goodwin’s latest book, “An Unfinished Love Story,” is part autobiography, part biography of her late husband Richard Goodwin, who was a speechwriter for both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson before breaking with LBJ to become a speechwriter for Robert F. Kennedy. The event is sold out, but the Vail Symposium will live stream it for members. For more information, visit vailsymposium.org/events/an-evening-with-doris-kearns-goodwin.
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PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF LIFE ANNOUNCED FOR TRYGVE BERGE, CO-FOUNDER OF BRECKENRIDGE SKI AREA
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On Saturday, Sept. 12, the family of Trygve Berge will be hosting a public celebration of life to honor his “remarkable life” and contributions to the Summit County community. Berge, co-founder of Breckenridge Ski Area and a Colorado Ski Hall of Fame honoree, passed away on April 2 after a brief illness. The former professional ski racer from Voss, Norway, founded the ski area in 1961, along with Sigurd Rockne and Bill Rounds. To honor that legacy, Berge’s family will be welcoming the community to Breckenridge’s Riverwalk Center from 2 to 5 p.m. The celebration will feature personal reflections and stories about Berge’s life and lasting impression. A cash bar will be available both before and after the presentation, as well as light snacks afterwards. The afternoon will provide an opportunity to come together, share memories, and celebrate Trygve’s life and the impact he had on Breckenridge, Summit County, and the great sport of skiing in Colorado.
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COLORADO WILDFIRE SUPPORT
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Alpine Bank has created funds to support the families of the firefighters and pilot who were tragically impacted by recent local wildfires - the Snyder Fire and the Gold Mountain Fire. Alpine Bank has made the initial donations and invites our local communities to join us in supporting these families. Alpine Bank has a longstanding commitment to supporting the communities it serves, especially in moments of hardship. These firefighters were there for our communities and now it’s our turn to stand beside their families and support them however we can. That’s what neighbors do. The benefit accounts are open for donations now through Aug. 31, 2026, with all funds going directly to the firefighters' families. Information on how to contribute can be found at the link below.
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HAYDEN FIRST ROUTT COUNTY MUNICIPALITY TO ADD DATA CENTER LANGUAGE TO DEVELOPMENT CODE
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The Hayden Town Council has voted 4-1 to amend the town’s municipal code to include language around data centers, making it the first Routt County municipality to add language directly addressing data centers into its development code. Section 10.03.05 of the development code, which outlines use-specific standards, now explicitly lists data centers as an allowed use within the heavy industrial category, paired with limitations on size and power demands, along with other requirements for potential developers. The town’s recent evaluation process of the land use code aims to fill any holes in the code in terms of both allowed uses and regulations. Ordinance 749 mandates that data centers are strictly required to be within the heavy industrial zoning areas of the land use code. The other primary heavy industrial area noted in Hayden’s master plan is near — though not within — the new Northwest Colorado Business Park.
- Data centers now have a designated section within the code. The section states that data centers cannot exceed a “maximum total facility electrical demand” of 50 megawatts based on maximum design capacity at full buildout.
- It also states that data centers must be completely contained within an “enclosed building” and that the cumulative gross floor area of all buildings related to data center development cannot exceed 60,000 square feet.
- The code also mandates that applicants must submit an energy supply plan that identifies proposed primary and secondary sources of electricity for the data center, among other required analyses.
- Any water cooling must use a “closed-loop or recycled water system” unless another cooling system is approved as part of the conditional use permit.
- Applicants must submit a water demand analysis demonstrating that sufficient municipal water capacity exists for the development without reducing the town’s ability to serve existing development; a noise study showing that the operation of the center complies with the town’s noise ordinance; and a thermal impact mitigation plan.
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COLORADO MEASURE REDIRECTS SALES TAX REVENUE FROM SPORTING GOODS, EQUIPMENT TO CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
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A proposal to redirect sales tax revenues from sporting goods and equipment toward wildfire and conservation programs will appear on the ballot this November, election officials in Colorado confirmed. The measure, if approved by voters, would reduce the amount available in taxpayer refunds by roughly $200 million each year. It is among several measures in play this year that would affect how much revenue the state raises or how existing state dollars would be spent.
The initiative, if approved by voters, would redirect roughly $175 million to $180 million a year in sales tax revenue from sporting goods and equipment to the following buckets:
- 47.5 percent to Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund
- 47.5 percent Colorado Wildfire Prevention and Water Fund
- 2.5 percent to Outdoor Equity Fund
- 2.5 percent to Outdoor Recreation Economic Development Cash Fund
Under the proposal, several agencies will get a funding boost:
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife would get distributions totaling $40 million from the Great Colorado Outdoors, which allocates a portion of lottery proceeds toward parks, wildlife and open spaces. Distributions to local governments from Great Colorado Outdoors would be $20 million.
- Spending from the Colorado Water Conservation Board fund would increase by about $18 million each year, the analysis said. The board makes recommendations about which water projects to fund to legislators each year.
- The measure would also boost spending in the Outdoor Equity Grant Program by $4.4 million. Lawmakers had established the program to increase outdoor access and opportunities for young people and families from communities that policymakers deem “traditionally underrepresented” in outdoor recreation and conservation.
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THREE WEST NILE VIRUS CASES REPORTED IN MONTROSE COUNTY
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Montrose County Public Health has confirmed three human cases of West Nile virus in Montrose County this season and is reminding residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. West Nile virus is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected culex mosquito. In Colorado, most human cases are typically reported in August and September, making continued prevention especially important as mosquito activity continues. Most people infected with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms. About 20 percent of infected people may experience flu-like symptoms, while fewer than one percent develop a serious, potentially life-threatening illness. Adults over 60 and people with certain medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms, including severe headache or confusion, should contact a healthcare provider.
To protect yourself:
- Use insect repellent when outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol provide effective protection. Always follow label instructions.
- Limit outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus are most active.
- Wear protective clothing, including long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks, in areas where mosquitoes are active. Clothing can also be treated with an appropriate insect repellent for additional protection.
To mosquito-proof your home:
- Drain standing water around your home at least once a week. Empty water from tires, cans, flowerpots, clogged gutters, rain barrels, birdbaths, toys and other areas where water can collect.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to help keep mosquitoes outside.
- Consider replacing outdoor lights with yellow “bug lights.” These lights may attract fewer mosquitoes but do not repel them.
- Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and continue taking precautions throughout the mosquito season.
Free mosquito dunks are also available to Montrose County residents through Montrose County Public Health for use in larger areas of standing water that cannot be easily drained. Mosquito dunks help prevent mosquito larvae from developing in standing water. Residents can pick up free mosquito dunks at Montrose County Public Health, 1845 S. Townsend Ave. in Montrose, while supplies last. For more information about West Nile virus, prevention and symptoms, visit the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment’s West Nile virus webpage.
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MARKET UPDATE - 08/24/2026 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 08/20/2026)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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