As severe drought conditions grip 97% of Colorado, the secondary impacts on outdoor recreation are accelerating. Effective immediately, the shooting range at the Basalt Area State Wildlife Area has been shut down until further notice due to extreme wildfire danger.

Eagle County currently sits at the epicenter of the state’s moisture deficit. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report, the county has reached a Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI) score of 500—the absolute maximum on the scale, categorizing the region under Stage 4 (Exceptional) drought.

While the broader State Wildlife Area remains open for other recreational uses, CPW officials warned that discharging firearms anywhere outside of the designated, now-closed range is strictly prohibited. The closure aligns with broader regional safety measures, as both Eagle County and the surrounding White River National Forest have already implemented rigid Stage 2 fire restrictions, which ban all open campfires, charcoal grills, and outdoor smoking.

Statewide, the DSCI score has climbed to 329, prompting localized closures of boat ramps and campgrounds as water supplies dwindle and the threat of human-caused ignition rises.