Local News

People who live in a wildfire-risk zone should create a wide swath of defensible space around their homes to have the best chance of surviving a wildfire, according to the preliminary findings of a recently released study of the Fourmile Canyon fire.

The study concludes that fuel treatments such as creating shaded fuel breaks and thinning trees aren't effective when there is widespread spotting or rampant flying embers landing as far as a mile away and setting trees on fire.

A ferocious wind storm blew away the park district’s tent on Dec. 30, but the wind calmed down enough for about 275 enthusiastic jumpers to defy fear during the annual Evergreen Lake Plunge 2012 at noon New Year’s Day.

After 50 years of service, the state highway department has retired the old vehicle storage building in Kittredge and is building a bigger and better replacement.

The Colorado Department of Transportation broke ground in November on a new vehicle storage shed at the maintenance yard on Highway 74 at Kerr Gulch Road. The previous structure was demolished in late September. A newer, brown metal building used to shield the sand supply will remain on site.

Completion of the vehicle garage depends on the weather, but the target is April or May.

Evergreen Metro District will install a $100,000 custom-designed aeration system in Evergreen Lake this spring to help increase the amount of water-borne oxygen, which helps sustain aquatic life, among other things.

Aerating the lake during the summer months is expected to increase dissolved oxygen at the bottom of the lake, help lower the lake’s water temperature, produce cooler water going downstream over the dam and help reduce the amount of lakeweed or elodea in the water.