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Aspen Journalism
Data dashboard: Most local streams are running well above average
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Aspen Journalism is compiling real time streamflow data. You can find all the featured stations from the dashboard with their real-time streamflow on this webpage. At Stillwater, located upstream of Aspen, the Roaring Fork River...
Water managers tend to focus on climate adaptation, shy away from policy action
Climate change is robbing the Colorado River of water and threatening water security for 40 million people living in the Southwest. But prominent Colorado water managers, citing political concerns, are shying away from action on climate, favoring instead adaptation to rising temperatures and sustainability in their own operations. The climate...
Groups working toward Outstanding Waters designations
Environmental groups in western Colorado are working to designate more reaches of high-elevation tributaries as Outstanding Waters, the state health department’s highest water-quality rating. The Outstanding Waters designation can be awarded to streams with high water quality and exceptional recreational or ecological attributes, and the intent is to protect...
Downtown Aspen assets on the line in Souki lender dispute
The saga involving a group of lenders battling a well-heeled Aspen family over the family’s local property holdings, gas company stock, real estate firm and massive luxury ranch is told through public records, emails, affidavits and court-hearing transcripts. Those documents show that the dispute doesn’t end with the lenders’...
Soil-moisture data points to moderate levels
“Soil moisture is just a memory creator,” Elise Osenga, community science manager at Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI), said at a summit in Carbondale on May 11. “It’s this memory of what’s happened in our water cycle.”. Those memories are based on soil moisture entering winter,...
Data dashboard: Streams flowing well above average
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Streams keep flowing faster and well above average. Aspen Journalism is compiling real time streamflow data. You can find all the featured stations from the dashboard with their real-time streamflow on this webpage. At Stillwater,...
The outsized impact of REMP residences
About two-thirds of the single-family homes built over the past five years in unincorporated Pitkin County have included at least one “exterior energy load” — such as a snowmelt system, pool, spa or heat tape — that requires mitigation under a program promoting renewable energy. Most of those properties installed a snowmelt system, a convenient but energy-taxing feature.
Data dashboard: Snowpack drops sharply as some streamflows double
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. The Roaring Fork’s upvalley streamflow has doubled since last week. Aspen Journalism is also compiling real time streamflow data. You can find all the featured stations from the dashboard with their real-time streamflow on...
Data dashboard: Winter occupancy down from last year
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Winter occupancy drops 6.4 points from from last year. Paid occupancy in Aspen reached 37.8% in April, down from 39.6% last year. Snowmass recorded 29.6% paid occupancy, up from 2022’s 26.5%, according to the April 2023 occupancy report for Aspen and Snowmass lodges, compiled by local tourism officials and reservations tracking firm Destimetrics. April occupancy reached 33.5% for the two towns combined this year, up from 33.1% last year.
Water saved through upper-basin program unlikely to move needle in Powell
Three of western Colorado’s biggest irrigation districts are not participating on a large scale in a federally funded program to conserve water, and the amount of water saved by the program overall won’t be enough to rescue depleted reservoirs. The rebooted System Conservation Program was one of the...
Data dashboard: Air temperatures and streamflow on the rise
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Streamflow on the Roaring Fork has approximately doubled since last week. Streamflows in the Roaring Fork basin have increased by 40-107% since last week, while Twin Lake Tunnel has started diverting. Aspen Journalism is also...
Stream restoration bill watered down
Colorado lawmakers may pass a stream-restoration bill this session, but it won’t be the one proponents and environmental groups were hoping for. A bill aimed at making it easier for stream-restoration projects that mimic beaver activity to take place has been gutted after stakeholders couldn’t reach an agreement, underscoring how difficult it is for environmental interests to gain a toehold under Colorado’s system of water law.
Aspen Journalism earns six Society of Professional Journalists’ Top of the Rockies awards
Aspen Journalism was honored recently with six awards in the Society of Professional Journalists Top of the Rockies competition for work published in 2022. Aspen Journalism received three first-place awards, one second-place award and two third-place awards for work by AJ staff and freelance reporters covering environment, data and social justice.
Data dashboard: Spring runoff boosts streamflows
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Streamflows in the Roaring Fork basin are up from last week. Aspen Journalism is also compiling real time streamflow data. You can find all the featured stations from the dashboard with their real-time streamflow on this webpage.
New short-term-rental rules limit supply, restrict future growth
Short-term-rental permit regulations implemented about six months ago in the city of Aspen and Pitkin County are limiting the growth of the residential vacation rental marketplace. Both local governments debuted new short-term-rental (STR) policies last year, in response to accelerating residential construction, environmental impact and socioeconomic concern. Since new permits...
Community summit kicks off talks on how best to protect Crystal River
Keeping the Crystal River free-flowing with no dams and preserving its scenic qualities, ecosystems and water rights for agriculture were values that nearly all the attendees of a Thursday community summit at the Marble Firehouse agreed on. How best to achieve those goals is another matter. The summit was organized...
Data dashboard: Lake Powell rises above target elevation
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Streamflows in the Roaring Fork basin are down from last week. Aspen Journalism is now compiling real time streamflow data. At Stillwater, located upstream of Aspen, the Fork ran at 39.7 cfs on April 24 at 1:30 pm. In terms of trends, the Fork ran at 40.1 cfs or 65.7% of average on April 23 after reaching 65.6 cfs on April 19. That’s down from 55.2 cfs and 117.4% of average, on April 16.
Drought task force to consider conservation programs
Colorado legislators on Thursday introduced a bill that would create a drought task force with the aim of providing recommendations about how to implement water-conservation programs and avoid a compact call. A draft of Senate Bill 295 says the purpose of the task force is to provide recommendations for state...
Data dashboard: Streamflows spike as spring runoff begins
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Note: Local snowpack readings and chart are now using the percent of median instead of percent of average. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin is now trending down with the arrival warmer temperatures last week....
Aspen Journalism
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Aspen Journalism is a local, nonprofit and investigative journalism organization in Aspen, Colorado. Our mission is to produce excellent journalism, as well-informed citizens make better decisions and journalism is key to a functioning democracy.
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