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Dove Creek: Fight or Die
This is a letter from a concerned citizen. First things first, I am not a Dove Creek native. For those who immediately dismiss the opinions of anyone from outside the local community, now is the time to stop reading. For everyone else, let’s address the situation directly.
I did not grow up in Dove Creek. I spent the first half of my childhood in a coastal state and finished high school in western Colorado communities along the I-70 corridor. Before anyone labels me as “one of them,”
I want to be clear: my family and I made a deliberate effort to acclimate to our new surroundings. We respected local precedent and values before offering ideas from our past experiences. This approach helped us integrate and become productive members of western Colorado. Respect for others and their beliefs has always been a core part of our family life.
With that said, let me first share why I believe Dove Creek is Somewhere Special. I have lived here for several years, and I see it as a great town in which to live and raise a family. The people here clearly love Dove Creek. What stands out most is the tight-knit community, the shared values, and the willingness to help neighbors in need. Most residents demonstrate the principle of “Love thy neighbor” in meaningful ways. This is a community of hard-working people who step up when things need to get done. For the most part, that strong work ethic has kept serious crime from becoming a major issue.
Unfortunately, there is another side to the story. After living here and observing the local dynamics for years, I have come to a difficult conclusion: Dove Creek is declining, and time is running out to reverse course.
Compared to other small towns that have faded in recent decades, we are approaching a point where the only remaining option for many may be to leave. Leaving a town you love with all your heart is heartbreaking—I have seen it happen to others, and it is not
something anyone here should have to face.
I do not claim to know every reason for the downturn since the early 2000s, but one major issue stands out from my own experience: too many problems are being overlooked or dismissed. Decision-makers sometimes seem
disconnected from the daily realities faced by many residents, especially those outside the Good Ol’ Boys Club, and their voices are often ignored or brushed off. The attitude can feel like, “It doesn’t affect me, so it must not be a big problem for the community.”
Clear examples include the lack of business innovation and steadily rising utility costs tied to a shrinking population.
The stagnation in local business development creates several problems: fewer jobs, limited goods and services, and reduced tax revenue. Many working residents must commute to neighboring towns or cities for employment.
While work in remote mineral or energy sectors is sometimes necessary, commuting for everyday jobs means less money spent locally on meals, fuel, groceries, and other needs. When local stores cannot meet daily essentials, residents understandably drive to
Cortez or even Grand Junction for better selection. This drains tax dollars from Dove Creek and weakens the local economy. Adding to the challenge, many jobs in Dolores County are not going to local residents.
At the same time, a declining population is driving up utility costs. Dove Creek risks falling into a cycle where fewer households must cover the same infrastructure expenses. Recent increases in water and sewer rates
illustrate the problem. If the population continues to shrink, those costs could rise even more sharply, pricing out working families whose incomes already struggle to keep pace with the rest of the state.
Previous generations of leaders deserve credit for many positive aspects of the community, but difficult decisions were sometimes deferred. The town’s aging water system is a prime example. Years of deferred maintenance
have led to a near-total need for replacement, forcing significant rate increases to fund repairs. This burden now falls heavily on younger families hoping to stay and build lives here. While many elderly residents will face these costs for a shorter time,
working families face them for decades. Future boards could theoretically lower rates, but government fee reductions are rare.
To the younger generations who grew up here or moved here seeking a better life: now is the time to get involved. Run for positions on the many understaffed local boards and committees—town government, ambulance district,
Dove’s Nest, and others. Attend and speak at public meetings. Talk with local business owners about their challenges and possible solutions. The window to change direction may be closing. Current and past leadership has not always prioritized the needs of
working families or long-term residents. Personal experience has shown me that concerns raised by everyday citizens are sometimes dismissed.
I have begun working outside town to support my family due to limited local opportunities. I truly love Dove Creek. You are Somewhere Special, and I hope to spend the rest of my working and retired life here. But if
the current path continues—making an already difficult situation worse—I will have no choice but to consider moving my family elsewhere, just as many others have had to do.
The choice belongs to all of us. Let’s work together to ensure Dove Creek has a strong future.