Good morning, Grand Junction.

The Mesa County Trail Crew finished a 12-week restoration of Unaweep Trail on the Uncompahgre Plateau, clearing debris and repairing drainage crossings left by the 2025 Turner Gulch Fire.

Work on other local trails will continue in September.

Out West Books is marking National Read a Book Day by showcasing local interest titles and bestsellers that invite all ages to enjoy literature away from screens (a nod to independent bookstores and community arts).

After a decade-long hiatus, the Mesa County Fantasy Faire returned to Orchard Mesa for Labor Day weekend and exceeded expectations with lively performances, vendors and family activities — including shows from the Avant Garde Performance Troupe.

Federal water managers plan to reduce Blue Mesa Reservoir releases to 200 cfs until February to rebuild storage, a decision troubling local anglers + outfitters who say flows below 300 cfs harm the fishery; Trout Unlimited urged officials to consider higher releases amid ongoing drought conditions.

At Sept. 2, CPW Director Laura Clellan said the agency will not offer supplemental food for black bears because doing so can trigger dangerous human-bear encounters — the decision aims to keep bears wild and safe as drought reduces natural food sources.

The Colorado Health Network runs the Fill It Forward program at its Grand Junction office (1001 Wellington Ave), offering free sharps containers and new syringes for safe disposal; the pilot has collected over 40,000 sharps with an 84.5% return rate and 20–25 new monthly participants as it seeks funding extension.