To get the designation, a steam’s water quality must meet 12 standards for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, E. coli and ammonia, and be under a threshold for seven dissolved metals, including cadmium, copper, lead and silver
Aspen Journalism
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Posted inHousing
With $2.4 million purchase, a Colorado nonprofit is testing “intervention model” to keep trailer parks out of private equity’s hands
To avoid a private equity owner, Manaus’ Roaring Fork Community Development Corp. is under contract to buy 3-Mile Mobile Home Park near Glenwood Springs
Posted inNews, Outdoors
Aspen area seeing a rise in bike crashes — and an increasing portion are with e-bikes
By Laurine Lassalle, Aspen Journalism Pitkin County and Aspen have been seeing an increase in bike and e-bike accidents over the past five years, according to data from Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and the Aspen Police Department. As a result, Aspen Valley Hospital’s trauma department is seeing more patients with severe bike injuries […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Water
Water releases from an already low Blue Mesa Reservoir will prop up Lake Powell
By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism BLUE MESA RESERVOIR — In an effort to prop up water levels at the declining Lake Powell, federal water managers are negatively impacting recreation on Colorado’s biggest man-made lake. That’s the message from Colorado water managers and marina operators at Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County. On Aug. 1, the […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Water
Low water forecast for Ruedi Reservoir near Aspen threatens hydropower, water deliveries
By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism Water levels at Ruedi Reservoir could fall so low this winter that the city of Aspen could have difficulty making hydro-electric power and those who own water in the reservoir could see shortages. That’s according to projections by the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the reservoir near the headwaters of […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Outdoors, Water
Bird count examines what happens when high-country Colorado irrigators use less water
By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism KREMMLING — In the gray light of dawn, hundreds of swallows darted over a pool of standing water in an irrigated field along the Colorado River. The birds were attracted to the early-morning mosquitos swarming the saturated landscape. Bill Vetter, a wildlife biologist with Wyoming-based Precision Wildlife Resources, methodically counted […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News, Outdoors
A northwest Colorado town is betting on the Yampa River to help it transition away from a coal economy
By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism CRAIG — With the impending closure of coal mines and power plants in northwest Colorado, Craig officials and river enthusiasts are hoping a long-overlooked natural resource just south of town can help create economic resilience. The city has applied for a $1.8 million grant from the federal Economic Development Agency […]
Posted inClimate, Economy, Energy, Environment, Growth, News
Estimates of future Upper Colorado River Basin water use confound planning, report shows
By Heather Sackett, Aspen Journalism Some water experts fear that a long-held aspiration to develop more water in the Upper Colorado River Basin is creating another chance to let politics and not science lead the way on river management. “Alternative Management Paradigms for the Future of the Colorado and Green Rivers,” a white paper released […]