Officials with Pitkin County and the White River National Forest say the special-use permit is the best possible way to protect the Maroon Bells amid federal staffing and budget shortages, but public-lands watchdog groups are sounding the alarm that the move could inadvertently serve as a forerunner in efforts to privatize federal lands.
Category: Environment
Aspen Journalism’s “Connie Harvey Environment Desk” is named in honor of the longtime Aspen environmentalist.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Major changes proposed for PitCo’s short-term-rental regulations
Pitkin County commissioners at a work session Tuesday asked for additional information about proposed changes to the county’s short-term rental regulations that would make more properties eligible for a license, while implementing new STR caps tailored to different areas.
Posted inEnvironment
Colorado’s private 14er
Hikers must apply for a permit well in advance, and only 20 are permitted on three designated hiking days per week An old friend waited two years for the permits for our hike this past June.
Posted inEnvironment
Lift One corridor construction plan anticipates three years before new lift opens
The agreement gives everyone good reason to stay on track: In addition to the benefits of mutually agreed-upon progress, both SkiCo and lodging developers could face steep fees if they cause certain delays that impact the new lift.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Short-term rental market continues to shrink in Aspen and Pitkin County
Stricter short-term rental rules passed four years ago by Aspen and Pitkin County are achieving their stated aims of limiting the vacation-rental marketplace, while also raising questions about the programs’ fitness, adaptability and unintended consequences.
Posted inEnvironment
When oil and gas trump other uses
Colorado’s Roan Plateau, a favorite backcountry zone for hunters, anglers and hikers because of its high-quality wildlife habitat, is once being proposed for oil and gas development. The Bureau of Land Management, in accordance with direction from the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act to hold lease sales in Colorado every quarter, has listed four leases on top of the plateau in its proposed December sale, with two additional leases nearby.
Posted inEnvironment
‘Where’s our bench?’
All departments/programs at the White River National Forest have seen reductions in the workforce, except the forest leadership team, which has been able to fill positions with Forest Service employees who have left other roles within the agency. Recreation, engineering and specialist roles have been particularly hard-hit.
Posted inLocal Public Data
Alternate route into Aspen now included in traffic counts
An analysis of a calendar year’s worth of data confirms that the side-entrance traffic makes up a significant portion of total traffic, as drivers seek to beat the gridlock that typically chokes Highway 82 during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Added together, vehicle counts from Highway 82 and Power Plant Road through all of 2025 show last year’s traffic approaching a 1993 threshold established as a benchmark to stay below.
Posted inEnvironment
Latest North Star plan includes ‘peak-use’ policy, commitment to conservation
The plan lays out 39 indicators that are meant to guide Open Space and Trails in ensuring that management is on track to meet the desired conditions, with thresholds that raise a red flag if something is amiss.
Posted inEnvironment
Aspen Highlands master plan includes gondola to Cloud Nine, summer operations
Highlands’ lift fleet has changed little since a push for upgrades in the ’90s. SkiCo wants to “be in business forever” and can’t do that on essence alone.