Dolores County Sheriff's Office

06/19/2026

Effective Immediately!!!

06/13/2026

🐻 Bear Sighting Advisory

The Dolores County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted regarding a recent bear sighting within the Town of Dove Creek.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, natural food sources in the mountains are limited right now, causing bears to travel into residential areas in search of food. Residents are encouraged to help prevent bear encounters by removing attractants around their homes.

Please remember to:
• Keep all trash secured and picked up.
• Clean grills thoroughly after use.
• Remove bird feeders and hummingbird feeders.
• Do not leave pet food or other food sources outside.

Taking these simple precautions helps keep both our community and local wildlife safe. If you encounter a bear, give it plenty of space and report any concerns to local authorities.

Thank you for helping keep Dove Creek bear-aware. 🐻

06/09/2026

Barricaded subject Incident on Pine Street over the weekend.

05/28/2026

COTTONWOOD ROAD CLOSURE

Cottonwood Road reconstruction project underway to improve safety and timber hauling capacity

Closure expected from June 8 through 19th, and delays expected through July
Durango, CO., May 27, 2026 — The San Juan National Forest has begun reconstruction of National Forest System Road (NFSR) 532, also known as Cottonwood Road. This project will continue through July, 2026, and temporary closures and delays will be required during reconstruction. Cottonwood Road is located north of the town of Dolores, Colo. on the Dolores Ranger District. The project will improve safety and access along the route, as well as making it more viable for timber hauling.

A full road closure will be required for the replacement of the Mavreeso Creek bridge, which will take place between June 8 and June 19 (see closure order and map). This closure will only impact a small segment of the Cottonwood Road between milepost 3.7 to and 4.6. The closure will prevent users from traveling from the Dolores Norwood road to the West Dolores road and visa versa. There will be no through traffic.

Why This Project Is Needed
The reconstruction addresses safety concerns related to narrow road sections, limited sight distance, and the weight-restricted bridge over Mavreeso Creek. These improvements will also support future active forest management and timber removal.

What’s Planned

Install new culverts and extend existing ones to accommodate a wider roadway
Remove roadside vegetation to improve visibility
Replace the one-lane, weight-restricted Mavreeso Creek bridge with a large culvert
Resurface the entire 7.5-mile stretch of road
When complete, Cottonwood Road will provide an alternate timber haul route for existing timber sales and related work on the Dolores Ranger District, reducing the need to transport timber through the town of Dolores. The road work is being completed in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Road Closure Details
Dates: June 8 – June 18, 2026
Location: NFSR 532 closed from milepost 3.7 to milepost 4.6
Access:
From West Dolores/County Road 38: Access to Mavreeso Creek Road remains open.
From Dolores Norwood Road (NFSR 526): Access will be maintained to Cottonwood Creek.
Closure applies to vehicles, bicycles, foot traffic, and equestrian use for public safety during construction.
During operations, heavy truck traffic can be expected on the Dolores Norwood Road between the north end of the Boggy Draw Road (NFSR 527) and the Cottonwood Road (NFSR 532).
The dispersed campsite on the west side of Mavreeso Bridge will be closed.
Mavreeso Creek trail access will be limited to parking available on NFSR 209.
For more information and updates, please contact the Dolores Ranger District at 970-882-7296.

05/28/2026

Cottonwood Road Closure

COTTONWOOD ROAD CLOSURE

Cottonwood Road reconstruction project underway to improve safety and timber hauling capacity

Closure expected from June 8 through 19th, and delays expected through July
Durango, CO., May 27, 2026 — The San Juan National Forest has begun reconstruction of National Forest System Road (NFSR) 532, also known as Cottonwood Road. This project will continue through July, 2026, and temporary closures and delays will be required during reconstruction. Cottonwood Road is located north of the town of Dolores, Colo. on the Dolores Ranger District. The project will improve safety and access along the route, as well as making it more viable for timber hauling.

A full road closure will be required for the replacement of the Mavreeso Creek bridge, which will take place between June 8 and June 19 (see closure order and map). This closure will only impact a small segment of the Cottonwood Road between milepost 3.7 to and 4.6. The closure will prevent users from traveling from the Dolores Norwood road to the West Dolores road and visa versa. There will be no through traffic.

Why This Project Is Needed
The reconstruction addresses safety concerns related to narrow road sections, limited sight distance, and the weight-restricted bridge over Mavreeso Creek. These improvements will also support future active forest management and timber removal.

What’s Planned

Install new culverts and extend existing ones to accommodate a wider roadway
Remove roadside vegetation to improve visibility
Replace the one-lane, weight-restricted Mavreeso Creek bridge with a large culvert
Resurface the entire 7.5-mile stretch of road
When complete, Cottonwood Road will provide an alternate timber haul route for existing timber sales and related work on the Dolores Ranger District, reducing the need to transport timber through the town of Dolores. The road work is being completed in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Road Closure Details
Dates: June 8 – June 18, 2026
Location: NFSR 532 closed from milepost 3.7 to milepost 4.6
Access:
From West Dolores/County Road 38: Access to Mavreeso Creek Road remains open.
From Dolores Norwood Road (NFSR 526): Access will be maintained to Cottonwood Creek.
Closure applies to vehicles, bicycles, foot traffic, and equestrian use for public safety during construction.
During operations, heavy truck traffic can be expected on the Dolores Norwood Road between the north end of the Boggy Draw Road (NFSR 527) and the Cottonwood Road (NFSR 532).
The dispersed campsite on the west side of Mavreeso Bridge will be closed.
Mavreeso Creek trail access will be limited to parking available on NFSR 209.
For more information and updates, please contact the Dolores Ranger District at 970-882-7296.

05/26/2026

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions: Beginning on May 27, 2026.

05/23/2026

Forest USDA Forest Service - San Juan National Forest

05/05/2026

05/05/2026

🚨 Traffic Alert – Dove Creek Area 🚨

Motorists should expect possible delays and temporary road closures due to an oversized/overweight load traveling through the Dove Creek area today.

📍 Route:
The load will be detouring around the Dove Creek bridge due to weight restrictions and will be using:

* County Road 8
* County Road 7
* Connecting back to US 491

⚠️ What to expect:

* Slow-moving oversized vehicle
* Temporary traffic holds while maneuvering corners
* Delays along CR 7, CR 8, and intersections with 491

These types of loads are rerouted because bridges have strict weight limits to prevent structural damage and ensure safety.

🚗 Please use caution, allow extra travel time, and watch for flaggers and es**rt vehicles in the area.