New West Network

My Page: Chris Jackson

State OF THE ROCKIES REPORT

Eighty-three percent of Rockies citizens live in the region’s urban centers. At the rapid pace at which the region is growing, the character of our cities largely defines the character of the region as a whole. Last week at the 2007 State of the Rockies Conference, renowned New Urbanist Peter Calthorpe, along with Mark Johnson of Civitas and Mark Tremmel of the Colorado Architecture Partnership discussed opportunities for New Urbanist projects and revitalizing the region’s urban centers.

The 2007 State of the Rockies Report Card feature on population growth and housing developments offers some startling population statistics. The eight-state Rocky Mountain West grew 9% from 2000 to 2005. Within this population influx is “boom within a boom,” as the 65+ population in the region grew more than 45 percent over the same time period—more than twice the growth rate of any region in the U.S. In addition to the New Urbanist developments discussed at the conference, the 2007 State of the Rockies Report Card looks at the emergence of retirement communities and gated communities in the West. We invite you to read the whole report here (PDF), and further the discussion on NewWest.Net.

stATE OF THE ROCKIES REPORT

Forest lands in the Rockies an integral element to the scenic beauty, economy, and environmental quality of the region. But what is the current condition of our Region’s forests? Fire suppression and disease have resulted in over-dense and diseased stands of trees. Compounding the dilemma, human development is encroaching forest lands; this growing region is called the Wildland Urban Interface, and it is expected to double over the next 20 years.

The 2007 State of the Rockies Report Card takes on the challenge of assessing forest health in the Rocky Mountain West. The analysis finds that over 21 million acres of forest in the West are diseased (defined as over 25% disease presence), and presents the ten most diseased counties in terms of relative forest acres and total diseased acres. Also included in our study of forest health is an analysis of forest fire risk around human development. By intersecting the Wildland Urban Interface with the forest lands most departed from their natural range of variability (Fire Regime Condition Class III), we have determined the counties most susceptible to fire near human development. Maps of diseased acres in the West, the Fire Regime Condition Class, and the Wildland Urban Interface, are located in the full State of the Rockies Report accessed through the link below. We encourage the citizens of the Rockies to discuss the implications of these findings, as well as policies related to the management of forests in the West.

To download the full forest report (PDF), click here.
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State of the Rockies Report

Water is a scarce resource in the West, and allocation of that resource is a source of dispute throughout the region. As forces of change affect the Rockies, namely prolonged drought and rapid population growth, it is likely that the current distribution regime will also change. The 2007 State of the Rockies Project, a faculty and undergraduate collaborative research initiative sponsored by Colorado College, explores national and regional water use trends, and examines the affects of agriculture to urban water transfers.

Water use in the Rockies is dominated by irrigation—87 percent of total use compared to 34 percent nationally. As the Rockies Region’s population continues to grow, to the tune of 9% from 2000 to 2005—4.5 times the national growth rate, demands on public supply use will also grow. From 1985 to 2000, public supply withdrawals in this region grew 45 percent. The majority of growth in public supply use occurs in Rockies metropolitan centers, as 83% of the region resides in urban areas. Given the current water situation in the West, what is the role of agricultural to urban water transfers, and what are the implications on small farms and surrounding communities?

These questions are addressed in the 2007 State of the Rockies Report Card. Click here to read a PDF of the the full version of the water sustainability section of the report, and we encourage you to further the discussion and engage in thoughtful dialog on water in the West.

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