Like so many hikes close to Boulder, the hike over Arapaho Pass is slightly jarring for the first couple hours. It takes 45 minutes to go from the bustling city to a view that looks completely untouched by people. To the right of this extraordinary view is the Arapaho Glacier, which previously covered much of the area but is melting so fast it was claimed by the city of Boulder as an official municipal water source. Though it will be hard to restore the glacier, its looming absence serves as a reminder to do our absolute best to preserve the rest of the area, as we have already changed so much of the landscape.

Protecting undeveloped refuges in Colorado, like the Arapaho Pass, is important for humans' health, happiness and connection to native plants and animals. All of those who care about issues like clean water, clean air, and the preservation of glaciers, forests and the like must make our voices heard by local government. In order to protect the nature in Colorado, and other Southwestern states, specific laws must be put into place regarding how each of these resources should be treated. We at State of the Rockies wanted to gauge how locals felt about these issues of resource protection and use. 

For the 14th year in a row, State of the Rockies surveyed people in the area on these environmental issues. Below are the results from the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll.