Health Services 
Daily Air Quality Advisories
Mesa, Delta and Montrose Counties
This is the final Western Slope Air Watch for the winter 2009 - 2010 season.
Air Quality Advisory: Updated 3:00 PM February 22, 2010
A BLUE air quality advisory is continued from 3:00 p.m. Feb. 22, 2010 through to 3:00 p.m. Feb. 28, 2010 for the western Colorado valleys including the communities of Grand Junction, Delta and Montrose.
The forecast for the advisory period calls for clear and sunny weather conditions until the middle of the week, followed by an active pattern forecasted for the remainder of the week. These conditions are expected to help maintain air quality in the GOOD category.
NO WOOD BURNING RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING ADVISED FOR THE CURRENT FORECAST PERIOD.
Advisory forecasts will be issued twice weekly and updated when necessary due to prevailing meteorological conditions for Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties. Follow the BLUE (Ok To Burn) or RED (Do Not Burn) advisories if you heat your home with wood fuel. Coal, pellet and gas heaters are exempt as well as EPA certified low-emitting wood stoves. Compliance with RED advisories is mandatory within the city limits of Grand Junction and voluntary elsewhere in Mesa County. Compliance is voluntary in Delta and Montrose Counties.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Continuous air monitors at Grand Junction are currently recording air quality in the GOOD category for PM-10, PM-2.5, ozone, and carbon monoxide. For current air quality values, use this link to view the CDPHE Air Quality Today webpage.
Reminders
Over the winter months, open burning is restricted in the Grand Valley. Our Spring Open Burning Season begins on March 1, 2010. Please go to our Open Burning webpage for more information on open burning.
Next Update This is the final update for the 2009-2010 season..
Additional Information
Weather conditions for the Grand Valley can be found on the National Weather Service site. Click on "Fire Weather" and go to "Smoke Management Forecast" for guidance on smoke dispersion. GJT-NWS
A listing of current statewide Fire Restriction information can be found on the Colorado Division of Emergency Management site. Colorado DEM Firebans
Statewide air quality and wildfire smoke information can found on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment site. Colorado AirQuality Info
Modern wood stoves provide considerable advantages over conventional stoves. Some of the benefits include getting more heat output while burning less wood, and dramatically lowering the risk of chimney fires. Always remember when using wood to heat your home, promote good combustion by having bright, quick burning fires using well seasoned wood to minimize emissions. Mesa County and the Housing Resources of Western Colorado are providing woodstove exchange grants to qualitying homeowners in Mesa County. More information is available on our website.
