Navajo Lake Is Filling Up Fast

Above, Navajo Lake last summer from the marina parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The water level of New Mexico's Navajo Lake looked pretty good to me last summer. Then again, I am not a lake water level expert.

My former roommate, Jessica and I rented a pontoon boat and had a great time boating on the lake. We camped at the Cottonwood Campground nearby.

According to an article in The Journal, Navajo Lake is filling up to levels last seen about six years ago.

They wrote:

With 12 feet of snowpack in the San Juan Mountains and 3 feet of snow melting in the past 24 hours, the lakes and rivers of the southwest are full.

The Animas River below Aztec, as of June 1, had a depth of 9.67 feet and was running at 4,160 cubic feet per second. The depth dropped to 7.75 feet at Farmington with a flow rate of 3,610 cfs, according to the U.S. Geological Service’s National Water Information System.

The San Juan River near Bloomfield, as of June 1, had a depth of 7.91 feet and was flowing at 4,760 cfs with water releasing from Navajo Reservoir into the river. At the confluence on the Navajo Nation, the San Juan River’s rate increase to 8,230 cfs, and it was reported as being 11.18 feet deep, according to the USGS.

Despite water flowing out of Navajo Reservoir the lake’s capacity has been increasing. “For a while we were going up over a foot a day,” said Jarrett Johnson, president and CEO of Navajo Lake Marina.

The lake was sitting at 43 feet deep as of June 1, making it 34.61 feet higher than this time last year, Johnson said.

“The last time we were this high or higher was six years ago. It’s pretty good water,” Johnson said, adding the depth is dropping because of releases. “They’re releasing as fast as they can release. “We’ll probably start falling, but they’re going to stop the release on June 14. We may come down 5 or 6 feet, but we’ll still be in phenomenal shape.”

Above, the view from the pontoon boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Snow Closes Mesa Verde National Park

Above, the deck furniture this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snow continued overnight here in Jamestown, New Mexico.

The Four Corners region got snow of varying amounts. Looking at the yard, it looks like we got about 1-2 inches of it. But further north of here (166 miles) is Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The park got so much that it had to close.

From The Journal:

Southwest Colorado saw heavy snow overnight and caused the closure of Mesa Verde National Park.

The park closed for the day because of impassable roads, said the park’s deputy superintendent, Bill Nelligan. The Visitor and Research Center, lodges and restaurants are closed for the day.

Morefield Campground got 10 inches of snow overnight, Nelligan said.

One of the park’s two heavy-duty snowplows is broken down, making it more challenging to get ahead of the snow as it piles up, Nelligan said.

Above, the front porch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snows will continue over the New Year's weekend and into next week.

To read more, go here. 

Elvis Weddings May Be Banned In Las Vegas

Above, Elvis Presley jumpsuits on display at Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A cease & desist letter from the licensing company who controls the image of Elvis Presley has Las Vegas wedding chapels all shook up.

According to The Journal:

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Las Vegas chapels of love that use Elvis Presley's likeness could find themselves becoming Heartbreak Hotels.

The licensing company that controls the name and image of “The King” is ordering Sin City chapel operators to stop using Elvis in themed ceremonies, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday. Authentic Brands Group sent cease-and-desist letters earlier this month to multiple chapels, saying they must comply by the end of May.

With Elvis so closely tied to Vegas' wedding industry, some say the move could decimate their businesses.

To read more, go here. 

What's Happening With Durango Train Lawsuits

Above, the Durango train at High Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It seems like the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is being picked on by bullies.

They are involved in two lawsuits.

The first is a federal lawsuit by the government over liability for the 416 Fire that took place in 2018.

According to the Durango Herald:

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the U.S. government are scheduled for trial more than two years after the government first filed its case seeking $25 million in damages for the 416 Fire.

U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn ordered the 10-day jury trial for May 2-13 in a yet-to-be-determined location. It marks the third time the trial has been scheduled since 2020.

To read more, go here. 

Above, the Durango train at Rockwood Station in September 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Next, a lawsuit between the railroad and La Plata County over the use of Rockwood Station and the County's land-use codes.

The Journal reported:

Whether La Plata County has authority over the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through its land-use code remains an unanswered question.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will decide the next steps in a lawsuit filed by the D&SNG and its Florida-based parent company American Heritage Railways Inc. against La Plata County arguing the county has little control over its use of the Rockwood station as a point of arrival and departure.

Lawyers for D&SNG and American Heritage Railways filed the lawsuit in May asking a judge to bar the county from issuing fines or other means of enforcement after county officials sent the railroad notices that the expansion and growth of its Rockwood station were not aligned with the county’s land-use code.

“The county lacks jurisdiction to apply its land-use code and regulations,” attorneys for D&SNG wrote in the lawsuit.

“The county lacks jurisdiction to apply its land-use code and regulations,” attorneys for D&SNG wrote in the lawsuit.

“DSNGR/D&SNG is regulated as to its facilities and services by the PUC and the regulation of public utilities involves a matter of statewide concern which precludes interference by the county,” they wrote.

The county petitioned the PUC in August asking the regulatory body to clarify its own jurisdiction and the authority of the county, and the PUC agreed to take the case.

 To read more, go here.

Durango Railroad Sues La Plata County Over Rockwood Station

Above, yours truly with the Durango train at Rockwood Station last year. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has filed a lawsuit against La Plata County after the county issued notices to the railroad to stop using Rockwood Station as an arrival/departure point.

The Journal reported:

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has filed a lawsuit against La Plata County in an effort to defend its increased use of the Rockwood Station about 15 miles north of Durango.

The Rockwood Station became D&SNG’s main arrival and departure point for excursions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing up to 600 people to the small neighborhood daily and sparking neighborhood concerns. The county says the train’s heavy use of the station is in violation of county codes.

La Plata County issued notices to D&SNG in early May ordering the train to stop using the Rockwood Station as a major arrival/departure point, among other demands. The train responded with a lawsuit, arguing the county doesn’t have the legal authority to restrict the railroad’s operations at the Rockwood Station.

According to the lawsuit, filed by D&SNG and the railroad’s parent company American Heritage Railways Inc., the train is a public utility regulated by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, and the county is pre-empted by federal law from applying local land-use regulations on railroad facilities.

Trains have the power to erect infrastructure necessary for their operations, and D&SNG has a lawful pre-existing use of the station, one that extends about 140 years into the past, according to the lawsuit filed May 21.

When Mitch Geriminsky and I took a train ride to Cascade Canyon last year, our departure/arrival point was at Rockwood Station.  

Above, the Durango train about to depart from Durango station in April. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting that the Durango train has used Rockwood Station for 140 years. This doesn't seem to bother those who are complaining. I wouldn't be surprised that they're probably usual complaining liberals who migrated to the area from California. 

Currently, the Durango train is departing and arriving at its Durango station. 

To read more, go here.

Mesa Verde National Park Offers J&J Vaccinations

Above, Mesa Verde National Park's Spruce Tree House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, visitors to Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado were given the opportunity to receive the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in a former hospital building in the park. They're calling it a "nod to history".

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one shot.

According to The Journal:

Anyone visiting Mesa Verde National Park on Thursday was treated to some of America’s best-preserved ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites and could receive a shot in the arm for the coronavirus.

The goal of “Shot in the Park” was to give visitors and staff members convenient access to a vaccine, the one-shot Johnson & Johnson. Shots were given from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Spruce Tree Terrace at Chapin Mesa. No appointment was necessary, and the vaccine was free. A park entrance fee was required.

The public clinic was organized in partnership with the Montezuma County Health Department, Aramark and the national park.

The vaccination clinic was held in the building that previously housed the Aileen Nusbaum Hospital.

Having the clinic at the old hospital site “is a wonderful nod to park history,” said Laurie Smith, assistant chief of interpretation and visitor services.

To read more, go here.

Mesa Verde National Park To Restart Cliff Dwelling Tours

Above, Square Tower House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One popular activity at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is the guided tours of the cliff dwellings. They were suspended last year due to the pandemic.

When Mitch Geriminsky and I went to Mesa Verde last September, we saw some people tour Cliff Palace, so it appears that they weren't totally halted last year.

Above, people being led on a tour of Cliff Palace last September. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to The Journal: 

Mesa Verde National Park will restart its hallmark cliff dwelling tours that were suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Tours will resume to the popular Cliff Palace and Long House sites. Backcountry tours will also restart for the less visited Mug House, Square Tower House and Spring House.

“We are so excited to invite folks back into the cliff dwelling sites and share the amazing story of Mesa Verde with people from around the world,” said Kristy Sholly, chief of interpretation and visitor services for the park.

Tour tickets can be bought online only, 14 days in advance of the tour date, on a rolling daily window starting at 8 a.m. at recreation.gov.

To read more, go here. 

Mesa Verde Natonal Park Designated As Dark Sky Park

Above, Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park has received a new designation, one that should make amateur astronomers happy.

The Journal reported:

Mesa Verde National Park is known for preserving ancient cultural sites, and now it will protect the nighttime view of the stars above as well.

This year, Mesa Verde was designated the 100th International Dark Sky Park, according to a park news release Monday.

The certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park’s night skies and provides added opportunities to enhance visitor experiences through astronomy based interpretive programming.

“We are happy to announce our work to advance the preservation of Mesa Verde’s night skies and provide visitors opportunities to experience the wonder of starry nights,” said park Superintendent Cliff Spencer. “National Parks are some of the best places in America to see a breathtaking array of stars, planets and neighboring galaxies.”

The multiyear application process included light pollution surveys, light source inventory, reducing outdoor lighting and downcast lighting systems. Essential outdoor lighting was upgraded to energy efficiency bulbs, which reduces park costs.

Dark Sky parks are also seen to create economic opportunities by promoting astronomy-based tourism.

Above, a view of Cortez, Colorado from Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Durango Railroad To Resume Trips To Silverton In May

Above, the Durango train at Rockwood Station last September. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Train buffs rejoice!

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will resume trips to Silverton.

The Journal (of Cortez, Colorado) reported:

In a major breakthrough, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad announced Friday it would resume trips to Silverton in May.

“It’s hard to believe the last passenger train that went up to Silverton was in October 2019,” said railroad manager Jeff Johnson. “I can’t wait.”

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the D&SNG could operate at only 50% capacity, which meant making the full trip from Durango to Silverton was no longer financially viable. Even if it was, a rainstorm washed out a portion of the tracks last spring, including a bridge, that made trips impossible for eight to 16 weeks.

The D&SNG operated through the summer, making smaller trips, mostly from the Rockwood to Cascade stations. But for the first time in Silverton’s history, the town went without the railroad for an entire summer.

Johnson said D&SNG officials worked hard in recent weeks to think of ways to make it financially feasible to offer trips to Silverton this season.

In the end, the D&SNG decided to increase the number of its high-end seats to offset the cost of losing 50% of its capacity, which is the current capacity requirement, according to public health orders.

Starting May 22, the D&SNG will send one locomotive to Silverton with up to 165 seats. On busier days, the railroad will add coaches to allow for 265 passengers, Johnson said.

Above, the Durango train at Highline while en route to Cascade Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I last rode the train in September from Rockwood to Cascade Canyon. The washout took place weeks before. It was still an enjoyable ride. We still managed to visit Silverton, but by car.

Durango is only about a three-hour drive from my home in New Mexico.

To read more, go here.

National Park Service Announces 2019 Fee-Free Days

Above, Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The National Park Service has announced the 2019 "free days" where entrance fees are waived for visitors.

The Journal reported:

The National Park Service has announced the fee-free days for 2019, when visitors may experience all national park units, including Mesa Verde National Park, without entrance fees. 

They are: 

• Jan. 21: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
• April 20: Start of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day.
• Aug. 25: National Park Service Anniversary.
• Sept. 28: National Public Lands Day.
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day.

To read more, go here. 

Bear Encounters At Mesa Verde National Park

Above, a black bear at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This story caught my attention as I've camped at Morefield Campground at Mesa Verde National Park twice. The first time was in a hard-sided travel trailer and then in a tent trailer (or pop-up trailer). During both visits, we saw no bears (just a lot of mule deer) and we really weren't aware of a bear population at the park.

According to The Journal, bear and human encounters at Mesa Verde are on the rise.

They wrote:

Like much of Montezuma County, Mesa Verde National Park has seen more than its share of encounters between bears and humans this summer, and its staff is recruiting volunteers to help. 

According to a news release Friday from Mesa Verde public information officer Cristy Brown, several members of the park’s black bear population have been spotted rooting through dumpsters and unattended food near campsites and picnic tables. Like other recent bear sightings throughout the region, these are likely caused by a shortage of natural food sources due to a late frost, according to the release. To prevent conflicts between bears and humans, the park plans to start a volunteer bear safety education program in conjunction with the nonprofit Bear Smart Durango and other wildlife management agencies.

To read more, go here.