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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.

Low water levels on Lake Powell
Posted inWater

West Slope water managers ask: What authority do the feds have?

by Heather Sackett August 4, 2022October 10, 2022

As the deadline approaches for the seven Colorado River basin states to come up with a plan to conserve water, some Colorado water managers are asking what authority the federal government has in the upper basin and which water projects could be at risk of federal action.

Lake Powell just upstream from dam
Posted inThe Runoff

The Runoff | In dog days of summer, streamflows diminish but demands don’t

by Heather Sackett August 3, 2022August 24, 2022

Welcome back to The Runoff, our monthly newsletter featuring insight and news from our Water Desk you won’t read anywhere else, plus additional context and updates on our most recent reporting. Once again we are taking the place of the normal edition of The Roundup, which will return next week. Thanks for going deeper with […]

Open Ditch in Starwood
Posted inWater

Red Mountain Ditch declines offer of grant money from Pitkin County

by Heather Sackett July 31, 2022July 31, 2022

Red Mountain Ditch irrigates about 380 acres of grass pasture on Red Mountain and in the exclusive Starwood neighborhood with Hunter Creek water rights that date to 1889.

Bird's eye view of the Crystal River
Posted inWater

Opinions differ on timeline as Crystal River Wild & Scenic efforts move ahead

by Heather Sackett July 18, 2022December 12, 2022

Since the Crystal flows through Gunnison County and the town of Marble, advocates say getting those residents and elected representatives on board will be key to moving the effort forward.

Crystal River rancher Bill Fales
Posted inWater

Crystal River rancher, Water Trust again try to boost flows

by Heather Sackett July 9, 2022July 12, 2022

The goal of the program is to use voluntary, market-based approaches to encourage agricultural water users — who often own the biggest and most senior water rights — to put water back into Colorado’s rivers during critical times.

Raymond Langstaff irrigates a parcel north of Rifle.
Posted inWater

State officials looking for engagement on updated water plan

by Heather Sackett July 3, 2022December 12, 2022

The plan says Colorado will continue the slow but steady transformation of moving water from agriculture — by far the largest water user — to cities, with nearly 14,000 acres of irrigated land expected to be urbanized, one-third of that in the Grand Valley.

Lake Mead intake
Posted inWater

Race is on for Colorado River basin states to conserve before feds take action

by Heather Sackett June 17, 2022June 22, 2022

The actions taken in the 2022 Drought Response Operations Plan will add about 1 million acre-feet, or 16 feet of elevation, to Lake Powell. But these actions are not enough.

Confluence of Colorado River and Little Colorado Rivers - Bird's Eye View
Posted inWater

Declining levels at Lake Powell increase risk to humpback chub downstream

by Heather Sackett June 13, 2022December 12, 2022

The problem from which all others stem, including the changing fish communities, and the reason Powell is so low in the first place is the climate-change-driven supply-demand imbalance, Schmidt said.

Posted inThe Runoff

The Runoff | River District in D.C., streamflows stressed and a possible double peak

by Heather Sackett June 8, 2022June 9, 2022

Insight and news from our Water Desk you won’t read anywhere else, plus additional context and updates on our most recent reporting.

Posted inWater

Early peak runoff for Western Slope rivers

by Heather Sackett June 3, 2022December 12, 2022

For several locations — the Roaring Fork at Glenwood, the Crystal, the San Miguel and the Colorado at Cameo — the peak came so early that it was outside the window of what’s considered normal.

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