All Aboard Westcliffe
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All Aboard Westcliffe Want to catch the train? That used to be an option in Westcliffe! --------------------------- A mixed train, meaning it carried freight and folks, came into Westcliffe every day for decades. The Denver & Rio Grande (D&RG) Depot was a busy place after its construction in 1901. It's quieter today but it is still a perfect stop in Westcliffe. See it as it appeared in the 1920s and take some time to visit with the clerk on duty to learn its history. All Aboard Museums are open on Saturdays from 10-4 during the summer. LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/3PfGVHn #visitwetmountainvalley #allaboardwestcliffe
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FDA Issues Warning
Today’s FDA warning letters outline how companies violated federal law by selling active drug ingredients in products marketed as foods, like honey, and by making unauthorized claims that their products treat disease or improve health. These products are promoted and sold for sexual enhancement on various websites and online marketplaces, and possibly in some retail stores. An example of issues noted, "These undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Men with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates." The warning letters were issued to: Thirstyrun LLC (also known as US Royal Honey LLC), MKS Enterprise LLC, Shopaax.com, 1am USA Incorporated dba Pleasure Products USA For more information on these letters and other warning letters from the FDA see the following link. https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/compliance-actions-and-activities/warning-letters.
- Press Release via Facebook
- Press Release via Facebook
THE CRISIS OF THE COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM
- By: Ralph “Terry” Scanga, General Manager
Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District
It should be obvious to anyone; trying to fill a bathtub with the drain wide open is foolish. This is precisely what the operators of the Colorado River System (Lake Powell & Mead) have been attempting to do for the past 20 years. They have disregarded the increased withdrawals to the Lower Basin States (California, Arizona, and Nevada) and the ubiquitous arid nature of the Southwest.
The Colorado River system and the Colorado Compact Administration was setup with a series of reservoirs recognizing the aridity of the region and the unpredictable amount of annual precipitation. With reservoirs, when water is more abundant the excess can be stored for later use when the inevitably drier periods arrive. In recent years, instead of reserving excess flows in the reservoirs, this excess was released to the lower basin states with the resultant excess draw-down of the vital storage system.
Most of the water supply for the Colorado River System is supplied by the Upper Basin States, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. As planned these states have continuously supplied the required 75-million-acre feet in 10 years or an average of 7.5 million per year. The amount of water that each of these states use each year is completely dependent upon precipitation and in Colorado is allocated strictly by the prior appropriation system without the benefit of a storage system to draw upon for leaner years except for water saved under the prior appropriation system. As such Colorado’s prior appropriation system automatically operates as a forced reduction in water use—a built-in “conservation brake”.
In contrast the Lower Basin States, California, Arizona, and Nevada receive their Colorado River supply from reservoirs and have the luxury of taking any excess deliveries in wetter years or drawing previously saved water from storage in drier years. The prudent regime would be to reserve the excess amounts in storage for use during drier periods. Instead of this exercise of prudence the Lower Basin States have continuously gambled those wetter periods would arrive and replenish the reservoirs.
In the chart below, we clearly see how Colorado and the Upper Basin States have reduced their use during drought while the Lower Basin States have increased their use during the same period.
Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District
It should be obvious to anyone; trying to fill a bathtub with the drain wide open is foolish. This is precisely what the operators of the Colorado River System (Lake Powell & Mead) have been attempting to do for the past 20 years. They have disregarded the increased withdrawals to the Lower Basin States (California, Arizona, and Nevada) and the ubiquitous arid nature of the Southwest.
The Colorado River system and the Colorado Compact Administration was setup with a series of reservoirs recognizing the aridity of the region and the unpredictable amount of annual precipitation. With reservoirs, when water is more abundant the excess can be stored for later use when the inevitably drier periods arrive. In recent years, instead of reserving excess flows in the reservoirs, this excess was released to the lower basin states with the resultant excess draw-down of the vital storage system.
Most of the water supply for the Colorado River System is supplied by the Upper Basin States, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. As planned these states have continuously supplied the required 75-million-acre feet in 10 years or an average of 7.5 million per year. The amount of water that each of these states use each year is completely dependent upon precipitation and in Colorado is allocated strictly by the prior appropriation system without the benefit of a storage system to draw upon for leaner years except for water saved under the prior appropriation system. As such Colorado’s prior appropriation system automatically operates as a forced reduction in water use—a built-in “conservation brake”.
In contrast the Lower Basin States, California, Arizona, and Nevada receive their Colorado River supply from reservoirs and have the luxury of taking any excess deliveries in wetter years or drawing previously saved water from storage in drier years. The prudent regime would be to reserve the excess amounts in storage for use during drier periods. Instead of this exercise of prudence the Lower Basin States have continuously gambled those wetter periods would arrive and replenish the reservoirs.
In the chart below, we clearly see how Colorado and the Upper Basin States have reduced their use during drought while the Lower Basin States have increased their use during the same period.
The primary purpose of Lake Powell and Mead is for hydro-power production and secondarily for drinking and irrigation. The falling levels of these reservoirs spell disaster for power production and now the Bureau of Reclamation is sounding the alarm. Unfortunately, unless drastic measures are taken that significantly reduces the annual draw by the Lower Basin States for the foreseeable future all Colorado River reservoirs will be jeopardized. Blue Mesa and Flaming Gorge have already been lowered to rescue the Lower Basin reservoirs. The present crisis is more about having allowed the Lower Basin to over appropriate water from the system than the impact from the drier period of the past 20 years.
In Colorado the Arkansas Basin and the entire Eastern portion of Colorado depend on a significant portion of its water from Colorado River system imports. In the Arkansas about 15 percent of all river flows are derived from this system. In drier periods these flows have always been reduced since they are regulated by the prior appropriation system. However, further reductions could come if the Lower Basin is not forced to comply with the Compact. It is possible that political forces could reduce the amount of water exported to the Eastern portion of Colorado and that includes the Arkansas Basin.
In Colorado the Arkansas Basin and the entire Eastern portion of Colorado depend on a significant portion of its water from Colorado River system imports. In the Arkansas about 15 percent of all river flows are derived from this system. In drier periods these flows have always been reduced since they are regulated by the prior appropriation system. However, further reductions could come if the Lower Basin is not forced to comply with the Compact. It is possible that political forces could reduce the amount of water exported to the Eastern portion of Colorado and that includes the Arkansas Basin.
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Library Happenings
DMV2GO Program Now in Custer County Monthly!
Sponsored by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office and
The West Custer County Library
The DMV is providing an exciting, new program that aims to help Coloradans who do not have easy access to in-office driver license services by bringing the DMV2GO Program to the West Custer County Library the third Thursday of each month! The DMV2GO Program will be held at the West Custer County Library Community Room on Thursday, June 21st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Who can use DMV2GO? Any Coloradan who needs a driver’s license or id card services can utilize this program. The DMV2GO Program is part of the DMV’s commitment to serve all Coloradans.
Provided Services: • First time: Colorado Driver License or ID card • Out-of-State Transfers • Renew: Driver License, Permit, Identification Card, • Issue New: Driver License, Permit, Identification Card • Motor Vehicle Records • Reinstatements • Colorado Roads and Community Safety Act services.
Important information:
Adult Crafting
Adult Crafting meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon in the Library’s Community Room. Local crafters recommended meeting more frequently and extending the time allotted to work on personal projects. Drop-by and enjoy the fellowship of local crafters . Please remember to bring a project.
Virtual Author Talk
Something you may have an interest in: Last week’s Virtual Author Talk hosted by the Water ’22 Campaign, featuring The Water Knife author Paolo Bacigalupi talking with Brad Udall, Senior Water and Climate Research Scientist/Scholar, Colorado State University. The discussion is now available as an archive on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Y5KzAxb1E&feature=youtu.be.
Tech Appointments @ the Library
Keeping up with technology can be challenging. The West Custer County Library staff can help anyone: set up a new Phone or tablet, assist with online shopping, get oriented on a Mac, and organize files in Windows. Appointments are also available for anyone interested in learning how to scan, copy, or fax. Please contact the library at 719-783-9138, or email info@westcusterlibrary.org to schedule a one-on-one thirty- minute appointment. Please bring the device or laptop, passwords, and user names to the appointment.
Senior Planet of Colorado Tech Help & Online Courses
Technology help is just a phone call away for Custer County senior residents who are 60 plus. Senior Planet provides free tech phone assistance to seniors by simply calling (720) 776-0233 Monday through Friday 9:30 to 4:30 MST. Checkout the seniorplanet.org website. It offers many online learning and fitness opportunities that can be taken from the comfort of home. From chair yoga to online banking, the morning stretch, Spanish Club, and more, seniors can connect digitally for new learning opportunities.
Please refer questions to Cathy the Adult Services Librarian at (719) 783-9138 or email cathy@westcusterlibrary.org.
Recurring Events
Questions about recurring events can be directed to
(719) 783-9138 or info@westcusterlibrary.org
Book Club – Last Wednesday of the month at 11 am
Inter-agency Meeting – Second Thursday of the Month at 11:15 am
Play to Learn – First Wednesday of the Month 10:00-11:00
Playgroup – Every Wednesday at 10:00
Camp Happiness – Every 1st Friday from 10:00-11:30
Lego Club – Every 3rd Wednesday from 4:15-5:15
Teen/Tween Events – Every 3rd Friday from 10:30-11:45
Dungeons and Dragons – Every Saturday from 10:00-2:00
Sponsored by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office and
The West Custer County Library
The DMV is providing an exciting, new program that aims to help Coloradans who do not have easy access to in-office driver license services by bringing the DMV2GO Program to the West Custer County Library the third Thursday of each month! The DMV2GO Program will be held at the West Custer County Library Community Room on Thursday, June 21st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Who can use DMV2GO? Any Coloradan who needs a driver’s license or id card services can utilize this program. The DMV2GO Program is part of the DMV’s commitment to serve all Coloradans.
Provided Services: • First time: Colorado Driver License or ID card • Out-of-State Transfers • Renew: Driver License, Permit, Identification Card, • Issue New: Driver License, Permit, Identification Card • Motor Vehicle Records • Reinstatements • Colorado Roads and Community Safety Act services.
Important information:
- No appointment is necessary
- the mobile program can only accept credit card payments
- the service for permits and reinstatements is limited
- the written test is not available. (The written test would need to be taken with a third party tester or a driver license office)
- Customers have to upload their reinstatement documents to colorado.gov. Once uploaded, it takes up to 72 hours for them to be processed and cleared off of the account.
Adult Crafting
Adult Crafting meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon in the Library’s Community Room. Local crafters recommended meeting more frequently and extending the time allotted to work on personal projects. Drop-by and enjoy the fellowship of local crafters . Please remember to bring a project.
Virtual Author Talk
Something you may have an interest in: Last week’s Virtual Author Talk hosted by the Water ’22 Campaign, featuring The Water Knife author Paolo Bacigalupi talking with Brad Udall, Senior Water and Climate Research Scientist/Scholar, Colorado State University. The discussion is now available as an archive on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Y5KzAxb1E&feature=youtu.be.
Tech Appointments @ the Library
Keeping up with technology can be challenging. The West Custer County Library staff can help anyone: set up a new Phone or tablet, assist with online shopping, get oriented on a Mac, and organize files in Windows. Appointments are also available for anyone interested in learning how to scan, copy, or fax. Please contact the library at 719-783-9138, or email info@westcusterlibrary.org to schedule a one-on-one thirty- minute appointment. Please bring the device or laptop, passwords, and user names to the appointment.
Senior Planet of Colorado Tech Help & Online Courses
Technology help is just a phone call away for Custer County senior residents who are 60 plus. Senior Planet provides free tech phone assistance to seniors by simply calling (720) 776-0233 Monday through Friday 9:30 to 4:30 MST. Checkout the seniorplanet.org website. It offers many online learning and fitness opportunities that can be taken from the comfort of home. From chair yoga to online banking, the morning stretch, Spanish Club, and more, seniors can connect digitally for new learning opportunities.
Please refer questions to Cathy the Adult Services Librarian at (719) 783-9138 or email cathy@westcusterlibrary.org.
Recurring Events
Questions about recurring events can be directed to
(719) 783-9138 or info@westcusterlibrary.org
Book Club – Last Wednesday of the month at 11 am
Inter-agency Meeting – Second Thursday of the Month at 11:15 am
Play to Learn – First Wednesday of the Month 10:00-11:00
Playgroup – Every Wednesday at 10:00
Camp Happiness – Every 1st Friday from 10:00-11:30
Lego Club – Every 3rd Wednesday from 4:15-5:15
Teen/Tween Events – Every 3rd Friday from 10:30-11:45
Dungeons and Dragons – Every Saturday from 10:00-2:00
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