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Despite the record-breaking snowpack this year, Routt County continues to get hotter and drier each year as a result of changing climate. Over the past century, average annual temperatures have increased, which we experience as earlier spring melt, declining forest health conditions, drier soils, reduced stream flows, increased stream temperatures and increased wildfire risks. Recognizing that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions drive these changes in our climate, Routt County commissioned a GHG inventory in the early 2000s to document 2005 emission levels. This initial study, and a follow up 2018 GHG inventory, served as a catalyst for the formation of the Routt County Climate Action Plan (CAP). In 2021, Routt County, the City of Steamboat Springs and the Towns of Hayden, Oak Creek and Yampa jointly adopted the plan and signed an Intergovernmental Agreement to develop the CAP Collaborative to implement the plan. | | |
The CAP serves as a set of attainable strategies Routt County can take to reduce GHG emissions across five sectors including Energy, Transportation, Waste, Land Use and the Economy. If all strategies and actions are implemented successfully, Routt County is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and 74% by 2050. Importantly, having this plan in place opens up access for the County, municipalities and partner organizations to grants and other funding and technical assistance resources that are currently or may soon be available at the state and federal level. | | |
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Currently, over 65 people are actively participating in the CAP Collaborative via the CAP Board and five CAP Sector Working Groups. The CAP Board consists of nine members, including four community members and a representative from each of the local governmental partners. The Board meets monthly to offer substantive expertise and to help assure consistency, accountability, coordination and integration of the CAP across the County.
In September 2022, five Working Groups began convening monthly to identify actionable, high impact recommendations needed to meet CAP carbon reduction goals and strategies in their respective sectors. As credible, technical experts, they provide guidance on current projects and climate-related policies and have proved to be a valuable community resource.
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The importance of the Routt County Climate Action Plan Collaborative to County residents cannot be overstated. Unaddressed, climate change presents a threat to human health, quality of life and our local economy. Taking a proactive stance on climate change will allow Routt County to be better prepared for anticipated changes in the regional climate and the impact those changes will have on citizens, landowners and businesses. What we do on a local level counts and matters. Anchored in an Intergovernmental Agreement, the Collaborative also represents a commitment by our local government partners to real action to address the effects of climate change in our community. By working together, residents, governments and all other stakeholders can help reduce our carbon footprint and ensure the County remains a vibrant and thriving community for years to come. | |
Each month we will be highlighting a climate win and action you can take across the CAP's five sectors. Celebrating our successes and steps taken will help us move the CAP forward together as a community. If you have a climate win or action you would like to share, please email info@routtclimateaction.com. | |
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Climate Win
Heating and cooling our buildings with fossil fuels generates 54% of our carbon emissions in Routt County. After completing its Energy Master Plan for Brown Ranch, the Yampa Valley Housing Authority Board recently approved the Plan and recommendations to pursue geothermal heating and cooling for the community. Key to this success was the fact that experts and decision-makers were evaluating the lifetime energy costs for the community: while more expensive up front, the geothermal system could save millions in energy costs for future Brown Ranch residents while aligning with CAP carbon reduction goals. This is a climate and community win.
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Action You Can Take
Solar energy, energy generated from the sun, is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available. Learn about utility scale solar development and the impacts we may experience within Routt County at Routt County’s Solar Summit on April 26 (location TBD). This event is being organized by the Routt County Planning Department in partnership with the Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA). Read more about going solar in Routt County here.
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Climate Win
We are grateful for the abundant snowfall this winter, but Routt County, like the rest of the West, is dealing with drier soils from a near-constant state of drought. Some top climate scientists are now referring to this as aridification. Our snow-to-flow patterns - or how much water is delivered to our rivers from snowpack - here in the Yampa Valley have been changing considerably in recent years. Monitoring soil moisture data is an important step towards a better understanding of how water in our basin is changing due to a changing climate.
Fortunately, we have a team of water resource science and management experts here in the Yampa Valley looking at this issue, and they were recently funded $860,000 to support their programs. The funding will expand the first soil moisture monitoring station installed in the Yampa River Basin in September 2022 and support the installation of eight more stations over the next two years. These stations will help fill an important gap in data needed for water resource managers to plan for a changing future.
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Action You Can Take
Wildfires have become a more common occurrence here in the Yampa Valley, and are a reminder that we are seeing the impacts of climate change here locally. Projected to only increase in frequency, intensity and size, prepare yourself by learning more about wildfire risk and how you can plan ahead by attending the Routt Wildfire Mitigation Conference April 27-29. The theme of this year’s conference is “From Planning to Implementation” and will focus on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan under development.
Kicking off the conference the evening of April 27, co-hosted by the Bud Werner Memorial Library, will be a public screening of the award-winning documentary Elemental that challenges us to reimagine our relationship with wildfire. The public is invited to attend the conference on Saturday, April 29 at Colorado Mountain College.
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Climate Win
E-bikes are a relatively affordable way to get out of your car. They have become even more accessible to low-income citizens through a Colorado Energy Office grant secured by Routt County Riders. The $129,000 grant helps fund a new electric bike access program in the Yampa Valley that will increase transportation availability for more transit dependent citizens. Local e-bike business Pedego Steamboat Springs has partnered with Routt County Riders to supply the e-bikes and even enhance them at a discounted rate. A nice example of a local business and non-profit working together to lower our transportation footprint.
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Action You Can Take
Transportation accounts for 26% of emissions in Routt County. To help bring this number down, efforts to create a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) are progressing with a new consultant and the launch of a feasibility study. Do you or people you know take the bus? How can we improve our transportation options and the roads and pathways getting us where we need to go? Lend your voice to this process by providing your input and priorities in a community outreach survey coming out this summer.
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Climate Win
According to 2021 data from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Routt County's recycling rate is 9.6%. This is well below the nationwide rate of 32%, which leaves us with opportunity for actions to increase waste diversion.
With the goal to increase waste diversion, the City of Steamboat Springs recently passed a commercial recycling ordinance that has incremental goals for haulers to offer recycling services for commercial businesses and multi-family residences over an 18-month period. With no prior recycling regulations in place for commercial businesses, this should have a significant positive impact on City recycling rates while increasing recycling access to more users.
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Action You Can Take
Composting is an impactful way individuals can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and support climate action. Composting keeps food waste, which generates methane (a highly potent greenhouse gas), out of landfills and returns valuable nutrients back to local soils. Consider signing up for a local compost service and learn more about the City of Steamboat Springs' composting efforts.
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Climate Win
Yampa Valley Green Business member Savatree - Steamboat, formerly Aspen Tree Service, is well on its way to Bronze level recognition through the Colorado Green Business Network. Replacing all lightbulbs with LED high efficiency bulbs, collecting 180 lbs of community recycled holiday lighting at the YVSC Depot and diverting 303 tons of wood chips from landfill are just some of the ways Savatree is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
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Action You Can Take
This year's Earth Day theme is "Invest in our Planet". Where you put your dollars matters. Come celebrate Earth Day with YVSC and key local environmental organizations and businesses and learn about ways to support environmental stewardship in the Yampa Valley. The celebration takes place Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Steamboat Resort Base Area. Bring the kids!
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We’d love your help getting the word out about the CAP Collaborative. Please share this newsletter with your friends and encourage them to sign up to stay informed. Continue the conversation on Facebook and Instagram, and email us at info@routtclimateaction.com.
Want to hear from members of our Working Groups and other CAP Collaborative updates? We invite you to join YVSC’s next Community Meeting, April 12 from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Register here.
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