Sentinel to host environmental symposium

By Staff
Wednesday, July 18, 2012

From record drought to the West’s most important waterway, invasive weeds to endangered wildflowers, a history of uranium mining to expanding oil and gas production, red rock canyons to white peaks, gray deserts and no less than five national forests, it is hard to think of a better or more important location for environmental reporting than western Colorado.

Over the past six months, The Daily Sentinel has been able to dig into all these stories and more through a grant supporting a full-time environmental reporter.  The six-month term of that grant ends next week, but before it does, the Sentinel is inviting the public to participate next week in a symposium discussing the newspaper’s work over the first half of this year and Western Slope environmental issues in general.

A roundtable discussion featuring Sentinel environmental reporter Matthew Berger, energy reporter Dennis Webb and several experts from the sizeable local science and environmental community will be followed with a brief reception.

“Between Mountains and Desert: Environmental Issues in Western Colorado” will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Colorado Mesa University Ballroom. The Sentinel would like to express its gratitude to the roundtable guests for taking the time for what should be a fascinating discussion and to reiterate the newspaper’s commitment to quality, in-depth coverage of the environmental issues playing out in our communities — a commitment that will last well beyond next week.