The Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Environmental Programs Division operates three air quality stations on the Reservation and maintains a website that provides real-time air pollutant and EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) health alerts from data collected at these stations. Smoke from wildfires can cause unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter (PM) in the air.

Particulate matter is continuously measured at the Ute 3 monitoring station near Bondad Hill and the Ute 1 monitoring station in Ignacio.

As of Friday, Sept. 29, the Ute 1 station is currently reading high PM concentrations with a corresponding AQI of Hazardous.  Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk.

To view the ambient monitoring program website, and for more information about how to understand the AQI forecast, follow the links below:

Southern Ute Indian Tribe Ambient Monitoring Program Website

https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/…/ambient-monitoring/

https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/

https://www.epa.gov/…/wildfire-smoke-resources-protect…

https://www.airnow.gov/…/how-smoke-from-fires-can…/

Air Quality in the Pine River Valley is expected to improve later in the day as temperatures increase to break up the nighttime valley temperature inversion.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EPD:

Air Quality – 970.563.2265

Danny Powers

Air Quality Program Manager

Environmental Programs Division

Southern Ute Indian Tribe

1-(970)-563-2265

dpowers@southernute-nsn.gov