The goal of the Air Quality Division (AQD) is to protect the health of Tribal Members and residents on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. AQD maintains three State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) to meet this need for the Reservation while also adhering to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SLAMS quality assurance guidelines.
Current Conditions
To further enhance Tribal Member and resident access to real time information on air quality conditions within the Reservation, ambient air monitoring data collected from these stations are reported to the EPA Air Quality System for National Ambient Air Quality Standard comparison and EPA’s AirNow website. This website establishes air quality forecasts using ambient air monitoring data index values and color rating system to help people understand when air quality can be harmful to their health.
This Air Quality Index (AQI) is a value and associated color scale used to communicate daily air quality conditions based on the amount of five major pollutants; these pollutants include ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The six color-coded ratings (as seen in the table below) range from 0-500, with higher values signifying poor air quality while lower values signify cleaner air quality. Each index range is associated with a different level of health concern for the public. The AQI has become a simple tool to report and forecast daily air quality in order to protect public health. To see today’s AQI value and the associated health recommendation, view real time data from AQD’s three monitoring sites below!
To view ambient air quality forecasts for the Southern Ute Indian Reservation visit the AirNow Website.
Air Quality Health Data
AQI Flag Program
This program is aimed at raising awareness about air quality safety on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.
As part of this initiative, triangular color-coded flags will be flown daily from flagpoles outside two locations:
- Ignacio Community Library
- Environmental Programs/Justice and Regulatory Administration Building
These flags correspond to the Air Quality Index (AQI), a nationally recognized system for measuring and communicating air pollution levels. Each color represents a different level of health concern related to air quality, helping residents make informed decisions about outdoor activities. Read the article “Tribe partners with ICL on air quality initiative” to find out more about the AQI Flag program in Ignacio or visit the EPA’s website Air Quality Flag Program to learn about similar programs across the country.
Please click HERE to go to today’s current forecast.
Ambient Monitoring Sites
The Ute 1 SLAMS is located just north of Ignacio, Colorado, the Ute 3 SLAMS is located off of Colorado State Highway 550 north of Bondad, Colorado and the Lake Capote monitoring site is located at the north end of Lake Capote and south of Colorado State Highway 160, near Chimney Rock National Monument.
The Tribe’s three air monitoring stations continuously monitor and report:
- Oxides of Nitrogen (NO/NO2/NOx)
- Ozone (O3)
- Particulate Matter (PM)
- Wind Speed
- Wind Direction
- Outdoor Temperature
- Relative Humidity
- Solar Radiation
- Precipitation
- Visibility
Air Quality Resources
Air Quality Resources and Info Sheets
- How to Protect Yourself from Forest Fire Smoke
- How to Estimate the Air Quality Using Visibility
- What is Ozone and Southern Ute Ozone Monitoring?
- Ozone Pollution and Health Impacts
- Understanding the EPA Air Quality Index Values
- Understanding the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Ambient Air Monitoring Website
Documents
Ambient Monitoring Staff
Andrew Switzer, Air Quality Program Manager – Monitoring & Planning
970-563-2214
Patricia Pena, Air Quality Specialist
970-563-2221