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 9/29/2023, 7:30am, 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
EPA Air Quality Index Information Website
Wildfire Smoke Resources to Protect Your Health | US EPA
EPA Air Now Article – How Smoke From Fires Can Affect Your Health
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
EPD, Air Quality – 970.563.2244
Jacob Henry
Air Quality Technician
Environmental Programs Division
Southern Ute Indian Tribe
970-563-2296
