Mitigation strategies that offset all exterior energy use have not always been possible or sufficient. Local governments are considering additional measures to help meet climate goals, including potentially reducing the maximum allowed house size in the county.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Data dashboard: Snowpack drops sharply as some streamflows double
• The Fork ran at 113% of average at Stillwater and at 163.5% of average below Maroon Creek on May 21.
• Snowpack at Indy Pass reached 2.9 inches of snow-water equivalent on May 21.
• Lake Powell’s elevation jumped from 3,538 feet last week to 3,547 feet on May 21.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Data dashboard: Winter occupancy down from last year
• The air quality in Aspen was “good” last week except on May 10 when the AQI index for ozone reached up to 64.
• Winter occupancy was down from last year with 53.8% for Aspen and Snowmass combined, down from 2022’s 60.2%.
• The Fork ran at 120% of average below Maroon Creek, while the Colorado reached 211% of average near the Colorado-Utah stateline.
Posted inWater
Water saved through upper-basin program unlikely to move needle in Powell
The effort shows that upper-basin water managers are willing to do their part to prevent the system from crashing, but that part is small compared with the cuts they say are needed in the lower basin.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Data dashboard: Air temperatures and streamflow on the rise
• The Fork ran at 354 cfs or 118.8% of average below Maroon Creek on May 7. That’s up from 187 cfs last week.
• Snowpack at Indy Pass was at 86.7% of median on May 7. That’s down from last week’s 100.6% of normal.
• High air temperatures reached 70°F on May 1 at ASE.
Posted inWater
Stream restoration bill watered down
After amendments removed language referring to these projects, the bill now only includes minor stream-restoration activities such as bank stabilization or restructuring a channel to recover from wildfire or flood impacts.
Posted inOn Aspen Journalism
Aspen Journalism earns six Society of Professional Journalists’ Top of the Rockies awards
We are grateful for the support from our community and pleased to see the work we produce honored with these awards.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Data dashboard: Spring runoff boosts streamflows
• The Fork ran at 78.9% of average on April 30 below Maroon Creek and at 102.2% of average at Emma.
• Lake Powell’s elevation reaches the target elevation of 3,525 feet on April 30.
• Air quality in Aspen has improved since last week.
Posted inLocal Public Data
New short-term-rental rules limit supply, restrict future growth
Since new permits became available in September and October, Aspen has issued 790 as of April 3 and 111 licenses were issued in unincorporated Pitkin County as of April 20, for a total of 901 licensed STRs between the jurisdictions. That appears to be well below the total number of properties involved in short-term vacation renting prior to the new permit regulations, when neither jurisdiction had strict limits on STR proliferation.
Posted inWater
Community summit kicks off talks on how best to protect Crystal River
Although there may not be imminent, specific threats of dams or diversions on the Crystal, Wild & Scenic proponents say that doesn’t mean there won’t be threats at some point.