The genesis for the five-part series currently underway exploring water use devoted to urban landscapes came last winter when Allen Best, a longtime Colorado journalist who has contributed to this news organization since 2013, approached Aspen Journalism to see if we would be interested in collaborating on a project he had long wanted to pursue. What would we think about a thorough examination of the issues facing the Colorado River basin through the lens of grass?
There could be a book there, argued Best, who is known for his dogged reporting on energy and climate issues via his Big Pivots newsletter, certainly if you consider all the water used to grow grass hay for livestock. But through the process of honing this concept, we settled on the narrower theme of urban landscapes, reasoning that marked shifts in this area are currently rippling across Colorado. The likelihood of less water being available in the future is at the heart of the matter. While the total share used to grow grass around homes, offices and roadways is miniscule compared to agricultural water use, cities understand that if they want to grow, they must limit their precious supply devoted to such purposes.
The city of Aspen in 2017 was an early adopter with its policy capping the amount of water a new development can use in its landscaping. Aurora and Castle Rock last year passed the strictest policies to date in the Centennial State, forbidding new front lawns and allowing no more than a postage stamp of grass in the back. The governor convened a task force with a report due in January that is expected to identify practical ways to advance outdoor water-conservation through state policy and local initiatives.
Best has broken up three months of reporting on this topic that took him from Durango to Fort Collins into five stories, spanning the history and possible future of the American yard in Colorado. Since Nov. 9, we have published three of these stories, each of which is linked to below. We’ve been sharing these with editors around the state, and they have appeared in over 10 publications, including the Greeley Tribune, Colorado Newsline, Ark Valley Voice, Fort Morgan Times and Grand Junction Sentinel, we well as our regular water desk collaborators at the Aspen Times, Vail Daily, Glenwood Springs Post-Independent and Steamboat Pilot & Today.
Part four, which examines what it takes for a homeowner to kill their existing lawn in favor of something more water-wise, will run later this week and the series concludes next week with a closer look at the policies banning grass and the state task force. Thanks to Best for putting in the heavy lifting, and to our readers for following along.
Join us for a housing discussion next week
We are also excited to announce a new live and in-person event next week put together by Aspen Journalism. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at Marble Distilling at 150 Main St. in Carbondale, join me as I moderate a discussion with panelists including Hannah Klausman, the director of economic and community development for the city of Glenwood Springs, and April Long, program director for the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition. These two are in the know when it comes to local affordable housing dynamics and policy, and we are excited to hear their perspective on our theme: Is the dream still liveable, and how do we maintain community in the Roaring Fork Valley? Look for more on this event in the days to come, but don’t wait to RSVP using the link below as capacity is limited!
Thank you for reading and supporting Aspen Journalism; you can double your impact by donating today and it will be matched dollar for dollar as we participate in the 2023 NewsMatch campaign.
In gratitude,
Curtis Wackerle
Editor and Executive Director, Aspen Journalism
Event Details
Location: Marble Distilling
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 6
Time: 5:30 to 7p.m.
Please RSVP to this free event
How bluegrass lawns became the default for homeowners associations
Some Colorado HOAs have started moving the needle, while state legislators prod others into water-wise landscapes; plus, a history of how we arrived at a certain idea of landscape perfection.
By Allen Best | November 21, 2023
Pollan and other writers have traced our modern idea of a lawn to the early 17th century. In at least one telling, aristocrats wanted clearings around their castles for defensive purposes. They either had animals graze it or dispatched servants with scythes to keep the grasses low.
At Colorado River’s headwaters, questions about whether there’s enough water for lawns
The Western Slope delivers 70% of the Colorado River water. So why do Aspen, Vail, Grand Junction and others want to replace thirsty turf?
By Allen Best | November 16, 2023
“It’s not about drought years,” says Eagle River Water and Sanitation District’s general manager. “It’s about a drying climate. We have to get people to shift their attitudes, to know that water is getting to be more scarce.”
Colorado squeezing water from urban landscapes
Pace of transition has accelerated, deepened and broadened
By Allen Best | November 9, 2023
Like weekly haircuts for men, a regularly mowed lawn of Kentucky bluegrass was long a prerequisite for civic respectability in Colorado’s towns and cities. That expectation has begun shifting.
Data dashboard: Streams are flowing faster than last week
High air temperatures went up last week at ASE
By Laurine Lassalle | November 20, 2023
• The Fork ran at 17.6 cfs on Nov. 19 or 56.8% of average. That’s up from last week when the river ran at 15.7 cfs and 47.6% of average.
• Lake Powell was 37.18% full on Nov. 19, down from 37.27% on Nov. 12.
• High air temperatures at ASE went from 41°F on Nov. 9 to 58°F on Nov. 13 before going down to 55°F on Nov. 15, which is about 14 degrees above normal.
Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 your gift will be matched! Thanks to NewsMatch and local philanthropic donors, new monthly donations will be matched 12 times or one-time gifts will be doubled – with no individual donation cap up to our $71,000 matching gift pool. Thank you for supporting Aspen Journalism and doubling your impact by donating today.