The Roundup | Shaping the landscapes we depend on

It would be difficult to neatly sum up, or thematically tie together, the 11 stories Aspen Journalism published since our last newsletter. This clip file covers the high-stakes stalemate in Colorado River negotiations, local law enforcement collaborating with ICE, a maximum-density subdivision demanding the community’s attention and a tale of humanity’s hubris leading to a 1969 nuclear test designed to extract oil and natural gas near Battlement Mesa that instead flared toxins, birthed an environmental movement and whose consequences reverberate still.

Also in this edition, Albert Schweitzer’s ideals and their place in Aspen’s history make new global connections, while modern cultural polarization reverberates though Garfield County’s public libraries. Meanwhile, local water policymakers are trying to find solutions for scarcity in the Crystal River Valley, and the eyes of the state again are on a water right in Glenwood Canyon that could hold the keys to long-term environmental protection. We also take a look at the growing proportion of e-bike accidents on our public lands.

From the headwaters of the divide to the halls of county government, this month’s reporting reflects our passion for asking questions, following the facts and tracking the data, exploring how past decisions and present pressures shape the landscapes we depend on.

This breadth of coverage is possible because Aspen Journalism is an independent, nonprofit newsroom with growing support from our community. As always, thank you for valuing in-depth, local journalism that connects the dots across Aspen, the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.

– Curtis Wackerle
Editor and Executive Director
Aspen Journalism

Local efforts to revive and elevate the legacy of philosopher-doctor-humanitarian Albert Schweitzer have gained international notice in a new French book, published in part through the efforts of a museum in Schweitzer’s hometown, visited by Lassalle. The volume collects personal accounts from people around the globe inspired by Schweitzer’s values, including local writer and Aspen Journalism contributor Paul Andersen and former Aspen Mayor Bill Stirling. Aspen organizers are also advancing plans for a second Albert Schweitzer Day to deepen community engagement with his humanistic ideals, tapping into the world-wide network that inspired the book.
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Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario received a cease-and-desist letter from a Denver-based law firm alleging his office has violated Colorado laws limiting local cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement and demanding the practices stop. The nonprofit says evidence shows unlawful detentions and information sharing with federal authorities. Vallario, who has previously denied such claims, said he would review the letter with county attorneys before commenting.
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Garfield County planning staff recommended denial of the Harvest proposal, a 1,500-unit subdivision between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs, citing noncompliance with county plans on density, water, wildlife, traffic, infrastructure, affordable housing and transit. Developer Richard Myers said discussions have been constructive and defended the project’s alignment with housing needs. No public comment was taken during the Feb. 25 hearing.
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Harvest developers tout the 1,500-unit project’s potential to alleviate the housing crunch, including 150 price-and-income-restricted “mitigation units” and another 300 “workforce occupied” units deed restricted for locally employed residents that would not have price or income limits. Opponents say the project, including all attendant commercial space, would worsen the housing crisis, generating more worker demand than it can cover, while straining infrastructure and harming the environment.
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The seven Western states that share the Colorado River have repeatedly missed federally set deadlines to agree on how to manage dwindling supplies and looming shortages, even as historic dry conditions threaten reservoir levels and hydropower production. Despite projections showing critically low flows and urgent calls for new management, negotiations remain stalled amid entrenched positions between Upper and Lower Basin states, leaving long‑term solutions elusive.
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In the late 1960s, federal officials detonated a 40-kiloton nuclear bomb beneath Rulison in an attempt to unlock natural gas reserves. The experiment was part of Project Plowshare, which sough peaceful uses for nuclear weapons technology, but instead led to dangerous mishaps. The deepest-ever nuclear explosion in Rulison, and a similar test a few years later in Rio Blanco County, failed to produce commercially viable gas and left behind lingering questions about contamination and long-term impacts. Our story revisits the region’s little-known nuclear past, its troubled legacy and why concerns remain in the midst of continued natural gas exploration in the vicinity.
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The West Divide Water Conservancy District has outlined a new drought-contingency strategy for the Crystal River basin. The proposal includes two potential off-channel reservoir sites and other sources aimed at securing backup supplies during dry years. As climate pressures mount and water users seek certainty, the plan raises questions about cost, environmental tradeoffs and long-term viability.
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Stakeholders across Colorado are vying for a voice in the Shoshone water court proceedings that may carry statewide implications. Sixty-three cities and water providers have filed statements of opposition in the high-stakes Shoshone water rights case. It’s a quirk of Colorado’s water court process that interested parties must take on the misnomer of “opposer,” but at least 23 of these “opposers” say they are in favor of the deal and filed in order to monitor and weigh in on the case. “This is probably one of, if not the biggest, water court battles in the history of the state so far,” Save the World’s Rivers Director Gary Wockner said. The outcome could influence flows on the mainstem Colorado River and reshape Western Slope water management.
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Garfield County Libraries has so far resisted efforts to remove books from its shelves amid nationwide debates over censorship. But with new trustees stepping into leadership roles, the system may face shifting dynamics. This story explores how evolving board composition, legal considerations and community pressure could shape the future of intellectual freedom in the county.
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With e-bike popularity surging across the Roaring Fork Valley, so are accidents. Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, which manages the Rio Grande Trail, reported a record number of e-bike crashes in 2025. Officials are weighing safety education, enforcement and trail management strategies as the region adapts to evolving transportation trends.
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Pitkin County is pursuing a $6.5 million deal to purchase the rights to Roaring Fork headwaters that are currently diverted to the Front Range, dedicating them to boost local streamflows. The move reflects a growing emphasis on environmental flows and river health in the face of climate change and competing demands across the Colorado River basin.
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As of March 2, snowpack in the Roaring Fork basin is at 65% of normal, or 8.7 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE). Snowpack has never been this low at this point in the season on record, breaking the previous record low of 9.2 inches measured on March 1, 1990. About 28% of Pitkin County and 19% of Eagle County are experiencing exceptional drought conditions, the Roaring Fork basin one of the two places in the West with this level of drought intensity.
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