The San Luis Valley has always had dust storms, for as long as humans have been there. The problem now is that as water dwindles, temperatures warm, a multi-decade drought rages on, and people continue altering the landscape, dust is increasing. Dust and sand storms impact farming economies by reducing valuable topsoil, and breathing in dust can have immediate and long-term respiratory and health impacts. We talk with farmer and rancher Kyler Brown and Dr. Lisa Cicutto about the impact of dust on public health and the state of farming in the Valley, along with the constant challenge of embracing change and uncertainty amid climate change.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
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Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton
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