Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Tuesday December 1st, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we’re discussing Glenwood Springs, and how they’re spending more than $10 million on repairs and upgrades to water supply infrastructure following the Grizzly Creek Fire.

 

We’ve also released another bonus episode today, featuring insight from one of our readers on what they’ve learned while living through a global pandemic in Colorado. 

 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to December 1st, 1894. The day Francis B Lowry was born in Denver. Lowry joined the US Army during World War One. He served as a photographer and observer of artillery positions from aircrafts, an innovative technology on the field of battle. During his 33rd mission German guns shot down his plane and he died in the crash. 

 

Now, our feature story. 

 

The Grizzly Creek Fire was not even 10% contained. Jumbo jets still were dousing flames as firefighting teams from across the country scrambled to protect Glenwood Springs and a critical watershed above the Colorado River. And teams of scientists were in Glenwood Canyon, too, battling alongside firefighters. 

 

Those hydrologists, biologists, geologists, archaeologists and recreation specialists are still there, even after the flames are gone, waging a behind-the-scenes battle to protect water and natural resources.

 

Colorado Sun reporter Jason Blevins is joining us today to talk more about the aftermath of the fire, and what’s in store in terms of recovery. 

 

Jason, thanks so much for the time! So, the Grizzly Creek fire was still raging in Glenwood Canyon when a team of scientists descended on the burn zone to began assessing damage and making a recovery plan, can you start by talking about what they found?

And, the city of Glenwood Springs has water intake infrastructure in Glenwood Canyon, can you tell us what was specifically damaged? 

And what are they spending money on?

Thanks so much for the insight, Jason.

It didn’t take long for Glenwood Springs to identify immediate repairs and upgrades to protect water systems from expected sediment and debris flowing from scorched canyon walls. 

 

By early September, less than a month after the Grizzly Creek Fire started, the city had a list of $86 million in projects. And the money started flowing almost immediately. 

 

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

On the first day of a special legislative session, Colorado lawmakers are potentially exposed to coronavirus. A Republican staffer in the Colorado House was on the chamber’s floor Monday morning despite testing positive for COVID-19 last week according to Democrats.

-

As unemployment claims in Colorado tick back up again, the site where out-of-work Coloradans go to request benefits was down on Monday morning possibly due to expired domain.

-

State officials have agreed to consider new county-by-county variances to red-level shutdown restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, but they warned rising case loads mean they will cast a skeptical eye on anyone hoping to replicate Mesa County’s “5-star” exemption program.

-

New Colorado state guidance could mean fewer teachers have to quarantine at home after a positive case of COVID-19 at their school, allowing more classrooms to stay open.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Tuesday December 1st, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we&rsquo;re discussing Glenwood Springs, and how they&rsquo;re spending more than $10 million on repairs and upgrades to water supply infrastructure following the Grizzly Creek Fire.
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve also released another bonus episode today, featuring insight from one of our readers on what they&rsquo;ve learned while living through a global pandemic in Colorado.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Today, we take you back to December 1st, 1894. The day Francis B Lowry was born in Denver. Lowry joined the US Army during World War One. He served as a photographer and observer of artillery positions from aircrafts, an innovative technology on the field of battle. During his 33rd mission German guns shot down his plane and he died in the crash.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Grizzly Creek Fire was not even 10% contained.<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/08/20/air-tankers-forest-service-wildfire-containment/"> Jumbo jets still were dousing flames</a> as firefighting teams from across the country scrambled to protect Glenwood Springs and a<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/08/19/grizzly-creek-fire-threatening-colorado-river-western-water/"> critical watershed above the Colorado River</a>. And teams of scientists were in Glenwood Canyon, too, battling alongside firefighters.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Those hydrologists, biologists, geologists, archaeologists and recreation specialists are still there, even after the flames are gone, waging a behind-the-scenes battle to protect water and natural resources.
&nbsp;
Colorado Sun reporter Jason Blevins is joining us today to talk more about the aftermath of the fire, and what&rsquo;s in store in terms of recovery.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Jason, thanks so much for the time! So, the Grizzly Creek fire was still raging in Glenwood Canyon when a team of scientists descended on the burn zone to began assessing damage and making a recovery plan, can you start by talking about what they found?
And, the city of Glenwood Springs has water intake infrastructure in Glenwood Canyon, can you tell us what was specifically damaged?&nbsp;
And what are they spending money on?
Thanks so much for the insight, Jason.
It didn&rsquo;t take long for Glenwood Springs to identify immediate repairs and upgrades to protect water systems from expected sediment and debris flowing from scorched canyon walls.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
By early September, less than a month after the Grizzly Creek Fire started, the city had a list of $86 million in projects. And the money started flowing almost immediately.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
On the first day of a special legislative session, Colorado lawmakers are potentially exposed to coronavirus. A Republican staffer in the Colorado House was on the chamber&rsquo;s floor Monday morning despite testing positive for COVID-19 last week according to Democrats.
-
As unemployment claims in Colorado <a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/11/21/restaurants-small-businesses-unemployment-fraud-pua-jobs/">tick back up again</a>, the site where out-of-work Coloradans go to request benefits was down on Monday morning possibly due to expired domain.
-
State officials have agreed to consider new county-by-county variances to red-level shutdown restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, but they warned rising case loads mean they will cast a skeptical eye on anyone hoping to replicate Mesa County&rsquo;s &ldquo;5-star&rdquo; exemption program.
-
New Colorado state guidance could mean fewer teachers have to quarantine at home after a positive case of COVID-19 at their school, allowing more classrooms to stay open.
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
&nbsp;
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

Advertisement