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By Carolina Brown, on January 15, 2020
County, local districts seek water rights to hedge against drought

The Board of County Commissioners, Ouray County Water Users Association and Tri-County Water Conservancy District have filed an application with the state for conditional water rights which would allow water to be diverted from Cow Creek into the Uncompahgre River so it could be stored in Ridgway Reservoir in preparation for times of drought.

County Attorney Carol Viner gave an overview of the application, which was filed on Dec. 30, at a meeting with commissioners on Tuesday.

“The goal of this...

County: Layoffs likely
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County: Layoffs likely
Commissioners, administrators warn of job cuts to close $1.5 million gap; staff criticizes leaders for not addressing problem earlier
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
September 16, 2026
Ouray County will likely need to lay off employees to make up a projected $1.5 million gap between requested expenses and revenue next year, county officials warned at a budget workshop on Sept. 9. Th...
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City prepared to pay fees for housing project
Despite some councilors' misgivings, Ouray in line to give more money to deed-restricted apartment complex
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
September 16, 2026
The city of Ouray is set to provide up to $225,000 to a nonprofit organization to cover water and sewer tap and building permit fees for a 13-unit affordable housing project. At City Administrator Mic...
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Local Briefs
Gold Mountain Fire closure area reduced
September 16, 2026
The closure area associated with the Gold Mountain Fire was reduced on Tuesday, reopening several roads and recreation areas in time for fall color season. The reopened areas include Owl Creek Pass, S...
Looking Back
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Looking Back
September 16, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago September 15, 1966 A Ouray County man, Rodney Adkins, accidentally shot himself while...
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Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
With water shortage, recreation shouldn’t trump irrigators
September 16, 2026
Dear Editor: Regarding the Aspen Journalism article that published in the Sept. 10 edition of the Plaindealer, I would like to respond to statements made by RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service owner Tim Pat...
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Local agencies can do more to protect public lands
September 16, 2026
Dear Editor: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service are proposing two management changes with profound effects on our public lands throughout the West and in our local mountain...
Main, News...
Water restrictions exception, not rule
Colorado is on track for its warmest year ever. Source flows are diminishing or at historic lows. So why has only one water provider in Ouray County ordered cutbacks this summer?
By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com 
September 9, 2026
In the early days of summer, it remained a matter of some debate where the drought of 2026 ranked in the annals of long, hot Colorado summers. For Cary Denison, Ouray County’s representative on the Co...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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