Quick 'n' Dirty

More user-friendly river data

At last, folks concerned about the health of the Animas River no longer need a chemistry or biology degree to decipher data.

This week – on the one-year anniversary of the Gold King Mine spill, San Juan Basin Health in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced the launch of a new, easy-to-use web portal. The Animas River Monitor web page – sjbhd.org/public-health-news/animas-river-health-updates/ – includes easy-to-read graphs on real-time sediment and safety levels, ph levels and metals concentrations. It also provides pertinent links to CDPHE’s interactive Animas River monitoring dashboard, including data from four sites as well as the EPA’s one-year report and general FAQ’s.

These tools are meant to inform the public on water and sediment quality conditions as well as the safety of common uses of the river, according to SJBHD. Although studies thus far show exposure to Animas River water or sediment does not pose a risk to human health during typical recreational exposure, agencies continue to monitor the situation in the event conditions change.

Envision a better Camino del Rio

The City of Durango is taking a look at one of its notorious trouble spots. On Thurs., Aug. 11, the City is hosting a community-visioning open house focused on the Camino Del Rio corridor. The meeting, which is open to property and business owners along Camino Del Rio as well as interested community members, takes place from 5- 7 p.m. at City Hall, 949 E. 2nd Ave. There will be a short presentation at 5:45 p.m., but attendees can drop in any time during that two-hour period, which will be spent collecting input and discussing the future improvements to this area.

The Camino del Rio area is coming under the microscope as part of the City’s “Durango Districts” initiative. The goal of the project is to, over the next several years, work with property and business owners and citizens to envision the development and revitalization of Durango’s mixed-use and commercial districts.

“Durango has fought hard over the years to stay unique, and the Durango Districts initiative is designed to make sure Durango remains a well-planned, safe and beautiful place,” City Planning Manager Scott Shine said in a press release. “Through robust and inclusive planning, the Durango Districts initiative will create coordinated district plans that embrace the unique character of each district and provide a vision for the future.”

The Camino plan will also be done in conjunction with the Business Improvement District and Colorado Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over Highway 550. Input is sought on steps that can be taken to improve Camino Del Rio and encourage reinvestment in this district. The workshop will focus on:

- Approaches to overall community growth;

- Property redevelopment and building improvement scenarios;

- Public improvements, including public space revitalization and public art

- Options for improving transportation safety

To learn more, go to districts.durangogov.org. For questions about the workshop, contact Shine at (970) 375-4858 or scott.shine@durangogov.org

Mercy adds 3-D mammography

Residents of the Four Corners just got an added tool in the fight against breast cancer. Mercy Regional Medical Center announced this week the addition of 3-D mammography (also known as “digital tomosynthesis”) to its Breast Care Center.

The state-of-the-art system, which went online June 29, is capable of detecting 30 to 40 percent more invasive breast cancers compared to standard 2-D digital mammography.  The new technology helps detects lesions with greater accuracy and clarity, as well as reduces false-positive and unnecessary biopsies.

It is the first machine of its kind in the region.

“We are pleased to be the first to bring this technology to Southwest Colorado,” Mercy’s Chief medical Officer Dr. Bill Plauth said. “3-D mammography will make it easier for doctors to catch breast cancer early and to reduce the chance of doctors seeing a false positive.”

Conventional digital mammography produces one image, taken from one angle. This limited view can make it difficult to detect cancers – especially through dense breast tissue – because a tumor may be obscured by tissue. In contrast, breast tomosynthesis takes multiple images of the entire breast, allowing radiologists to view the breast layers. Using software, the layers are then reconstructed into a composite image, which allows for examination from all angles.

The new system, which was funded by contributions to the Mercy Health Foundation, complements Mercy’s other breast diagnostic services including ultrasound, MRI and specialized laboratory diagnostics.

– Missy Votel