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Data dashboard: New occupancy record for Aspen last month
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Paid occupancy in Aspen reached 77.5% in January, up from 69.7% last year — a new record for January. Snowmass recorded its fifth best January with 72.8% paid occupancy, up from 2022’s 67.3%, according to the January 2023 occupancy report for Aspen and Snowmass lodges, compiled by local tourism officials and reservations tracking firm Destimetrics. January occupancy reached 75.2% for the two towns combined this year, up from 68.6% last year.
Data dashboard: Roaring Fork basin snowpack reaches 137% of median
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 127% of average for Feb. 5 or 137% of median with 13.7 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. SNOTEL sites that monitor snowfall throughout the winter measured...
State officials draft bill on stream restoration
Colorado officials have drafted a bill aimed at addressing a tension between stream restoration projects and water rights holders. The draft clarifies that restoration projects do not fall under the definitions of a diversion, storage or a dam and do not need to go through the lengthy and expensive water court process to secure a water right.
Data dashboard: Roaring Fork basin snowpack at 128% of average
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 128% of average for Jan. 29 or 142% of median with 12.8 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. Recent snowfall has increased the basin snowpack by 17% in the past two weeks.
Data dashboard: Roaring Fork basin snowpack reaches 133% of average
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 133% of average for Jan. 22 or 145% of median with 12.2 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. Recent snowfall has increased the basin snowpack by 25% in the past two weeks.
River District considers criteria for water conservation program
A Western Slope water conservation district has released a draft of the rules it plans to use to guide a program paying water users to cut back. The Glenwood Springs-based Colorado River Water Conservation District Board of Directors discussed the policy at its quarterly meeting this week. In December, the Upper Colorado River Commission unveiled details of a rebooted water conservation program, which originally ran from 2015 to 2018 and paid water users to use less Colorado River water.
Scientists studying water supply focus on weeks following peak snowpack
Water managers in the Colorado River basin are gaining a better understanding that what happens in the weeks after peak snowpack — not just how much snow accumulated over the winter — can have an outsize influence on the year’s water supply. Water year 2021 was historically...
Data dashboard: Over 61% of the rooms in Aspen were occupied in December
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Paid occupancy in Aspen reached 61.6% in December, down from 63.1% last year. Snowmass recorded 48.7% paid occupancy, down from 2021’s 56%, according to the December 2022 occupancy report for Aspen and Snowmass lodges, compiled by local tourism officials and reservations tracking firm Destimetrics. December occupancy reached 55.5% for the two towns combined this year, down from 60.3% last year.
Data dashboard: Roaring Fork basin snowpack reaches 126% of average
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 126% of average for Jan. 8 with 9.7 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. Recent snowfall has increased the basin snowpack by 43% in the past two weeks.
APCHA’s RO category supports a growing number of million-dollar homes
When looking at the Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority ownership inventory we recently shared, it can be surprising to see what’s known as affordable housing valued at $1 million or more. Surprising, perhaps, anywhere but Aspen. But for owners of a growing segment of the highest-priced properties in the APCHA...
Inventory shows who lives in APCHA deed-restricted ownership housing
More than 3,200 people live in the 1,652 deed-restricted ownership units managed under the Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority, according to ownership affidavits collected in 2021, representing nearly one-fifth of the population of Pitkin County. For many, ownership in these homes forms the basis of a life here, providing stability that...
Data dashboard: Lake Powell about to reach critical level
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack remains above average in the Roaring Fork Basin. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 109.7% of average for Dec. 25 with 6.8 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. SNOTEL sites that monitor...
Data dashboard: December occupancy pacing behind last year
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Paid occupancy in Aspen reached 30.2% in November, down from 33.4% last year. Snowmass recorded 12.4% paid occupancy, down from 2021’s 19.7%, according to the November 2022 occupancy report for Aspen and Snowmass lodges, compiled by local tourism officials and reservations tracking firm Destimetrics. November occupancy reached 21.7% for the two towns combined this year, down from 28.8% last year.
Upper basin moves closer to water conservation program
LAS VEGAS — Upper Colorado River basin officials seemed to inch closer to implementing a demand management program, the heart of which involves paying agricultural water users to use less, at the Colorado River Water Users Association conference this week. At the annual gathering of water managers and experts...
Dealing with methane escaping from Coal Basin’s shuttered mines sparks debate
On a dark evening in early October, about 20 people gathered in a dimly lit room on the bottom floor of the Redstone Church. Many of the chairs were empty, but a smattering of locals from around the small, tightknit hamlet of Redstone had come to learn more about a project that could transform Coal Basin, a mountain valley just west of town.
Data dashboard: Roaring Fork basin snowpack remains above average
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 122% of average for Dec. 11 with 5.6 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. SNOTEL sites that monitor snowfall throughout the winter measured the snowpack at Independence...
Uinta Basin Railway opposition unites Colorado towns, Utah backcountry residents
Darrell Fordham is heartbroken. It took years for the resident of Lehi, Utah, to purchase 20 acres above Utah’s Argyle Canyon and build a cabin for family retreats. “I’ve sunk about $150,000 into that property,” he told Aspen Journalism. “We bought it back in 2006 just as a place to raise our kids. Get ’em out of the city, get ’em unplugged and off the cellphones.”
Upper Colorado River officials release details of water savings program
Upper Colorado River basin officials have released details of a conservation program that would pay water users to reduce their use of Colorado River water, with the goal of implementing it as soon as this summer. In July the Upper Colorado River Commission released its 5-Point Plan, designed to protect...
White River call ‘significant’ for water users
A water conservancy district has put a call on the White River, an action that has the potential to alter the system for other water users. On Dec. 1, the Rangely-based Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District placed a call for its water right of 620 cubic feet per second at the Taylor Draw Dam hydroelectric plant, which the district owns and operates. It is only the second-ever call on the White River. A call occurs when a water rights holder isn’t getting the full amount of water to which they are entitled and upstream water users are shut off or “curtailed” so that the downstream user can get their full amount.
Data dashboard: Roaring Fork Basin snowpack up 38% since last week
Aspen Journalism is compiling a data dashboard highlighting metrics of local public interest, updated weekly. Snowpack at Indy Pass has increased by 45% since last week. Snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin reached 120.5% of average for Dec. 4 with 4.7 inches of snow-water equivalent, according to NOAA. SNOTEL sites...
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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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