The Southern Ute Tribal Council spent the morning of Monday, May 9, touring the west side of the reservation with Tribal Planning and Lands staff, along with Archuleta County leadership and staff. The group began the tour at the Pagosa Junction Bridge, which is approximately 100 years old and in need of repair.
Tribal Planning Project Coordinator, Mary Eagle visits with Lands Division Head Seana Luzar about the number of commuters that rely on the Pagosa Junction Bridge to get to and from work. The bridge sees approximately 800 passes a day; energy services also rely on the bridge to get to and from energy development sites in the area.
The second leg of the tour focused on the erosion issues along County Road 500. The San Juan River is naturally carving away at the silt hillside which will soon impact the roadway. The Tribe and the County are working towards finding the best long-term solution.
Council Member Vanessa Torres holds up a map shared by Archuleta County to provide an aerial view of San Juan River and proposed engineering fixes.
Photo Credit: Lindsay Box | SU Council Affairs
Photo Credit: Lindsay Box | SU Council Affairs
Photo Credit: Lindsay Box | SU Council Affairs
Photo Credit: Lindsay Box | SU Council Affairs
