With the enactment of the continuing resolution, staff at Colorado National Monument are returning to normal winter operations. It will take a few days for all operations to return to normal.
The Saddlehorn Visitor Center has resumed its normal winter schedule of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Rim Rock Drive continues to be open from Grand Junction to DS Road and from Fruita to Independence Monument View. The portion of Rim Rock Drive from DS Road to Independence Monument View is closed due to snow and ice which have accumulated over the last month. The monument maintenance staff will be working to re-open when it is safe to do so. Please do not travel beyond closed gates to allow for safe snowplow operations.
Entrance fee collection will take a couple of days to be fully operational. The fee collection staff must reprogram cash registers and change signage to reflect entrance and camping fee increases that were scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2019. This fee increase was approved two and a half years ago.
“We would like to send out a huge thank you to the community for their overwhelming support during the last month,” said Superintendent Ken Mabery. “Our natural and cultural resources sustained no significant damage. The outpouring of offers of assistance for our staff from the community was heartwarming.” A special thank you goes to Mesa County for continuing to plow the east hill and to Rocket Toilet Rental for continuing to service the portable toilets.
Chief Ranger Mark Davison reminds everyone to keep safety in mind while visiting. Sidewalks and overlooks may still have ice and snow in places. Shaded areas of Rim Rock Drive will be slippery.
While the government shutdown is over, unfortunately its effects will be long lasting. January is typically the month staff prepares for the summer season. Tasks such as hiring summer interns and employees have been delayed a month. Planned natural and cultural compliance reviews which are critical to summer maintenance work were not completed. Planning meetings with community groups and organizations were missed. For some of the permanent staff there will be projects which will need to be delayed until next year. Please be patient with the staff as they regain momentum.
Winter hours are now in effect at Colorado National Monument. The visitor center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. For additional information please visit www.nps.gov/colm or call 970-858-3617, ext. 360.
Jeff
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