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Aspen Journalism: local. nonprofit. investigative.

Aspen Journalism

local. nonprofit. investigative

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Heather Sackett

Author Archives: Heather Sackett

Heather Sackett is the managing editor at Aspen Journalism and the editor and reporter on the Water Desk. She has also reported for The Denver Post and the Telluride Daily Planet. Heather has a master’s degree from CU’s Center for Environmental Journalism and her reporting has been recognized by the Colorado Press Association.

High school students transfer baby razorback suckers from a tank into the Colorado River.
Posted inWater

Colorado River endangered fish recovery sees some success

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett June 23, 2023June 23, 2023

But, despite the successes and the coordinated efforts of federal and state agencies, upstream water users and environmental organizations, meeting minimum flow requirements in a chronically dry section of fish habitat remains a challenge, and stressors such as climate change, drought and nonnative predators are creating new hurdles for helping the fish recover.

Roaring FOrk River
Posted inWater

Roaring Fork flows to spike early next week as Twin Lakes diversion pauses

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett June 15, 2023June 15, 2023

Heimerich said they are projecting to reach the storage condition on Monday, June 19, which means they will start to ramp down diversions on Sunday, June 18.

Posted inWater

Water managers tend to focus on climate adaptation, shy away from policy action

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett June 13, 2023June 16, 2023

Yet, despite a cleareyed recognition of the scale of the climate problem, Colorado water managers have done remarkably little when it comes to pushing for climate action on a main cause of water shortages: rising temperatures caused by humans burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Two men taking water quality samples from Avalanche Creek. One is in the water, while the other stands on the shore with a clipboard.
Posted inWater

Groups working toward Outstanding Waters designations

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett June 7, 2023June 12, 2023

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 the water quality from future degradation.

Boater on the San Juan River looking at cliffs
Posted inThe Runoff

The Runoff | Rising rivers, resolutions and questions

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett May 25, 2023May 25, 2023

It’s spring in the Rockies and that means rivers are cranking. Three water-related bills passed into law this session. Town of Meeker trustees grill new dam proponents.

Posted inWater

Water saved through upper-basin program unlikely to move needle in Powell

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett May 12, 2023September 5, 2023

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 inWater

Stream restoration bill watered down

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett May 3, 2023August 2, 2023

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 inWater

Community summit kicks off talks on how best to protect Crystal River

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett April 28, 2023September 27, 2023

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.

Navajo Bridge across the Colorado River
Posted inWater

Drought task force to consider conservation programs

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett April 21, 2023May 4, 2023

Demand management has many skeptics, especially in western Colorado where some worry that temporarily compensating irrigators to use less could be a slippery slope toward “buy and dry,” stripping communities of their water.

Posted inWater

Record March snow fueling above-average spring runoff forecasts

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett April 14, 2023April 14, 2023

With warmer temperatures this week, it’s likely that much of the Western Slope has already turned the corner, hitting peak snowpack and beginning to melt out.

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