Developing a dependence on Colorado irrigation
Aspen Journalism Water Desk Editor Heather Sackett traveled to Kremmling recently, rising before dawn to join researchers as they set out to count birds at a ranch that’s participating in a study examining what happens when irrigators cut back on water use. This informed our most recent story, “Kremmling bird count studies how birds use irrigated agriculture,” which ran in five Western Slope newspapers, as well as the statewide Colorado Sun.
Gorgeous photography and artful storytelling by Sackett made for a compelling package that zeroed in on a critical question facing water managers and those tasked with ensuring the viability of the Colorado River system: What are the consequences of changing water-use patterns for the land, for rivers and for life in all forms? The results of the bird count are still being analyzed, but sources in the story said it’s clear that there were more bird species observed on the property in question this year — as participants returned to normal watering practices — compared to last year when those taking part in the grant-funded study cut their water use. This demonstrates that flood irrigation, while not necessarily a natural process, is beneficial to birds, who could suffer if irrigators fallow their fields.
The study is not directly related to feasibility investigations the state of Colorado is conducting into the concept of demand management, where irrigators would get paid to use less water in order to bolster storage in Lake Powell, in hopes of avoiding a compact call. But the information gathered is seen as important to informing a potential program.
Also this week, we updated our data dashboard with car counts at the entrance to Aspen, which are getting back to pre-pandemic levels, and we continued tracking the local COVID-19 curve, which looks very different depending what end of the Roaring Fork Valley you’re in.
Thanks for reading and supporting Aspen Journalism.
— Curtis Wackerle, editor
Kremmling bird count studies how birds use irrigated agriculture
By Heather Sackett | July 10, 2021
As the state of Colorado grapples with whether to implement a demand-management program, which would pay irrigators to temporarily dry up fields in an effort to send more water downstream, there could be unintended consequences for the animals that use irrigated agriculture for their habitat. Continue reading…
Data dashboard: Traffic in town is back to 2019 levels
By Laurine Lassalle | July 16, 2021
When the ski lifts shut down in mid-March 2020, the city of Aspen recorded a significant drop in traffic at the entrance to Aspen. But this year, the daily average for the months of March through June is getting back to 2019 levels, up to 23,510 cars per day on average for June 2021. Continue reading…
Tracking the Curve
By Laurine Lassalle | July 16, 2021
Garfield County reported 17 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, Eagle County added four cases, while and Pitkin County removed a case. Continue reading…
Colorado River basin reservoirs begin emergency releases to prop up a troubled Lake Powell
“The releases are meant to maintain some level of hydroelectric power at Lake Powell’s dam, which is under increasing threat due to its low level. Glen Canyon Dam’s minimum hydropower level is at 3,490 feet above sea level. It’s currently at 3,557 feet, and is forecast to drop to 3,515 feet by the end of April 2022.”
Source: kunc.org | Read more
Forest Service moves to preserve ‘hotspots’ in Maroon Bells wilderness
“The U.S. Forest Service unveiled a proposal Thursday to implement a reservation and permit system with a fee of $12 per person per night for the Four Pass Loop, the Capitol Lake area and Geneva Lake starting next year. It would also start charging the $12 fee at Conundrum Hot Springs, which already requires a reservation and permit.”
Source: aspentimes.com | Read more
Visitors provide differing opinions on wolf restoration during open house in Glenwood Springs
“The measure to reintroduce gray wolves to former habitats west of the Continental Divide in Colorado had passed in the state by a slim 50.4% to 49.6% margin. In Garfield County, however, the measure was voted down 63.3% to 36.7%.”
Source: postindependent.com | Read more
Numbers explain how and why West bakes, burns and dries out
“The average daily high temperature for the entire area from the Rockies and westward in June was 85.7 degrees (29.8 Celsius), which beat the old record by 1.3 degrees (0.7 Celsius), according to NOAA.”
Source: apnews.com | Read more
Colorado mountain towns say they can’t handle any more tourists amid labor, housing crises
“Overlapping waves of visitors and new residents are amplifying an unprecedented labor shortage and housing crunch. And with that seasonal distress comes a growing call to silence the statewide promotion of Colorado as a vacation wonderland.”
Source: coloradosun.com | Read more
Archaeologist’s research reveals rich Ute history
“Ute bands identified themselves by the land or “core area” they came from. The Yampa-tika resided primarily along the Yampa and White Rivers, the Parianuch resided in the La Sal Mountains (called Elk Mountains in Ute), and the Tabeguach lived on the Uncompahgre Plateau.”
Source: theheraldtimes.com | Read more
Aspen, mountain towns face ‘tough transition’
“Those remote workers, however, don’t fill local jobs and they ‘outcompete local workers for housing,’ the report said. ‘This hurts the ability for local businesses to find, keep, and attract employees, lowering the level and quality of services they can provide to residents and visitors alike.’”
Source: aspentimes.com | Read more
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