Ute Mountain Ute Councilwoman Presses Colorado on Water, Housing, Safety

Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Councilwoman Marilynn House traveled to Denver to press state lawmakers for targeted help on issues that affect Towaoc and neighboring communities, including Dove Creek County. In a State of the Tribe-style address delivered to legislators on Jan. 21, 2026, House outlined a compact list of priorities: bolstering public safety, expanding affordable housing, improving health services, protecting tribal water rights tied to the Colorado River, and securing safer roadways on U.S. Highway 491.

House asked the state to coordinate with federal partners to expand Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement presence and provide prosecution support. Those requests highlight long-standing jurisdictional gaps that can leave incidents spanning reservation and county lines unresolved without clear resourcing and intergovernmental agreements. For Dove Creek County residents who travel US 491 for work, school, commerce and medical appointments, stronger cross-jurisdictional policing and prosecution could translate into faster responses and clearer pathways for handling criminal cases.

Affordable housing was a central demand. House urged state housing agencies to make resources available and to allocate low-income housing tax credits to build new homes in Towaoc. Local officials and employers have cited housing shortages as a constraint on recruiting and retaining workers; additional housing stock in Towaoc could ease pressure on nearby rental markets and labor pools in Dove Creek County.

Health was presented broadly to include mental, physical and environmental dimensions. House framed healthcare access as intertwined with housing quality, road safety and environmental stewardship, signaling a cross-sector approach that would require state cooperation across agencies.

Water-rights protection was one of the most consequential asks. House pressed for enhanced assistance to secure tribal water rights tied to the Colorado River, a matter with implications for regional water allocations and agricultural users across the basin. Securing those rights involves legal, technical and political work that will require sustained state engagement.

House also called on the Colorado Department of Transportation to improve maintenance and safety on U.S. Highway 491. That corridor is a lifeline for commerce and daily travel between Towaoc, Dove Creek County and other Mesa Verde region communities; pavement repairs, signage and safety work could reduce accidents and economic friction.

She highlighted recent tribal successes, including the opening of Nuchu Market, a new grocery store improving food access, and the Sun Bear Solar project, which she described as a major economic opportunity for the tribe. House urged deeper and more regular tribal consultation with state lawmakers to convert promises into projects.

For local residents, the immediate stakes are concrete: safer roads, more housing, clearer law enforcement coverage, and water security that affects farms and households. Watch for follow-up from state committees and budget decisions in the coming legislative weeks, and for announcements about consultation meetings where residents can track progress and hold officials accountable.