Lake Fork Valley Conservancy

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

STAR FEST going on now at the Lake City Community School! Planetarium sessions! Solar scopes to see the sun up front and personal! Glow in the dark face painting! Science activities! Star Fest t-shirts selling fast!

See full schedule of events here:

https://www.lfvc.org/lake-city-star-fest

06/09/2026

Lake City Star Fest is this weekend! Join us Friday and Saturday for guided stargazing, astronomy talks, planetarium sessions, and more! Registration is required for some events, so sign up now.

06/04/2026

https://www.westernslopenow.com/news/off-road-vehicles-damage-fragile-alpine-tundra-ecosystem/

Alpine Rangers reported off-trail damage to the fragile Alpine Tundra in the San Juan mountains during the first week of June, according to the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office.

06/03/2026

Did you know Colorado has observed Public Lands Day every third Saturday of May since 2016? 🏔️ We're the first state to do it, because we know what's at stake.

Here's why it matters more than ever:

🌿 Colorado has 22+ million acres of publicly owned land, places where families hunt, fish, hike, camp, ski, and simply belong.

💰 Outdoor recreation contributes $13.9 billion to Colorado's economy annually and supports 130,000 jobs. 92% of Coloradans participate every year.

⚠️ This year's celebration came with a warning. The Trump administration recently rolled back the BLM's Public Lands Rule, weakening conservation protections. Congressional Republicans are targeting Grand Staircase-Escalante. And the man now in charge of the BLM has spent his career backing efforts to sell off federal lands.

✅ The good news: Senator Bennet just introduced the Public Lands Integrity Act to prevent public lands from ever being quietly sold through a budget bill. Rep. Hurd now has a chance to prove his support is more than words by backing the companion bill.

Public lands aren't a partisan issue. They're our shared inheritance. And they deserve more than one Saturday a year. They deserve protection. 💚

Full editorial linked in bio, via the Durango Herald.

06/02/2026

2026 LAKE CITY STAR FEST JUNE 12-13! See schedule below.

Vehicle parking slots for Saturday's Star Party at Slumgullion Pass are filling up fast so register your vehicle soon. Car pool if you can! https://www.lfvc.org/lake-city-star-fest

Bonus event on Sunday June 14 - Harvey DuChene's Volcano Tour! https://www.lfvc.org/geology-programs

A big shout out to our sponsors to date:
Andromeda Sponsors: Hinsdale County; Town of Lake City; The Matterhorn Motel
Milky Way Sponsors: Dark Skies Colorado; Ann Marshall; Michael Underwood Photography; Mountaineer Theater
Orion Sponsors: The Country Store; Hall Realty; Lake City Arts; Southern Vittles; Wild Bunch Desert Guides
Comet Sponsors: Alpine Loop Outpost; KayBee Nature Photography; Cabin Fever Mercantile; Climb Elevated Eatery; Dan’s Fly Shop; Lisa & Alan Davis; Jon Eidson; G&M Cabins; Lake City Bakery; Lakeview Property management; Murphy Realty; Windy Point Trading Company; 38 Degrees North

05/16/2026

🌌 Keep the Lake Fork Valley dark, and the stars bright! 🌌

The 4th Annual Lake City Star Fest is coming up on June 12-13, 2026, and we need your support to make it our best year yet!

We have an amazing weekend planned under some of Colorado’s darkest Bortle 1 skies—including guided stargazing at Slumgullion Pass, interactive science workshops, Milky Way photography sessions, and art experiences. 🔭✨

🤝 Want to make an impact? Become a Sponsor! Help us preserve our pristine night skies and inspire the next generation of celestial stewards.

👇 Check out the full schedule of activities and find out how you can sponsor the magic here:
🔗 lfvc.org/lake-city-star-fest

05/16/2026

As we look to the future of our region, responsible stewardship and community-driven conservation are more important than ever. 🌎

To guide our efforts, the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy is proud to release our new Strategic Plan, alongside a brand-new look and logo! This roadmap introduces exciting new initiatives designed to protect and enhance our watershed, ecosystems, and community livability.

📖 Explore the new plan at: https://www.lfvc.org/strategic-plan

Our community is at the heart of everything we do. Please take a look and let us know your thoughts in the comments: How can we best work together to protect the natural integrity of our valley?

05/06/2026

02/14/2026

https://www.wired.com/story/record-low-snow-in-the-west-will-mean-less-water-more-fire-and-political-chaos/

Snowpack levels across a wide swath of western US states are among the lowest seen in decades, even as regulators struggle to negotiate water rights in the region.