Aspen Journalism

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Gail Schwartz joins a majority of women on Colorado’s state water board

Water Desk

Pair of lawsuits challenges need for more Colorado River water
By Lindsay Fendt, Aspen Journalism
Lawsuits from Save the Colorado are challenging demand projections in an effort to leave more water in the Colorado River system.
Colorado River District sees soft demand for its stored water
By Brent Gardner-Smith
Sales to cities and the energy sector are flat or declining, but sales to boost instream flows hold promise.
Colorado River District seeking to ease tax limitations
By Brent Gardner-Smith
97 percent of the district's revenue comes from property taxes, but state tax laws are reducing its revenue stream.
Reclamation official explains drought measures in lower Colorado River basin
By Brent Gardner-Smith
Reservoir levels are dropping, future hydrology is scary, and water must be saved.
Runoff in Colorado River basin likely below-average, federal official warns
By Brent Gardner-Smith
Despite the welcome snowstorms in Colorado, dry soil in the upper Colorado River basin may keep runoff levels below average.

"While the signing was getting underway in Phoenix, a veteran board member of the IID spoke angrily at a meeting on the shore of the Salton Sea, condemning his counterparts for writing his district out of the deal and suggesting they were sipping champagne while ignoring an urgent 'environmental and public health disaster' at the shrinking lake."

Source: www.azcentral.com

US official declares drought plan done for Colorado River

"U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman commended Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming for reaching a consensus on the Colorado River drought contingency plan."

Source: apnews.com

Gail Schwartz joins a majority of women on Colorado’s state water board

"Schwartz and two other women — appointed by Gov. Jared Polis and expected to be confirmed today by the state Senate — are slated to be sworn in Wednesday at a CWCB meeting in Fort Collins, and then six of the 10 voting members of the CWCB board will be women."

Source: www.aspentimes.com

Aspen mayoral candidates see same priorities for next term

"They said they want to fix internal issues within City Hall and hire a new city manager; build and better manage affordable housing; focus on environmental issues; prioritize child care needs for young families and support small businesses."

Source: www.aspentimes.com

There’s been lots of action on Colorado education legislation. Here’s a progress report.

"More marijuana money for school construction: The House Appropriations Committee is the next stop for this measure to take more than the originally promised $40 million annually from marijuana taxes to use for school repairs and construction."

Source: chalkbeat.org

Red flag bill moves forward in Colorado Senate

"House Bill 19-1177 would allow law enforcement and families of those who are mentally ill and present a risk to themselves or others to petition a judge for an 'extreme risk protection order,' or ERPO, to temporarily remove firearms and provide involuntary mental health treatment."

Source: www.rmpbs.org

Avalanche Danger Keeps Red Mountain Pass Closed For At Least Two More Weeks

"'We have never encountered avalanche slides to this magnitude."

Source: www.cpr.org

Boulder County Commissioners Call for Local Permitting for Gross Reservoir Expansion

"After more than four hours of testimony the three commissioners issued a unanimous decision, siding with their land use director that Denver Water needs to follow the 1041 permitting process."

Source: news.kgnu.org

Kids Demand Climate Action While Colorado Politicians Blow off Urgent Need to Transform Urban Transportation

"On Friday, students from more than 100 countries walked out of school to demand action on climate change, including in Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins and Telluride."

Source: denver.streetsblog.org

Exhibit Near Moab Recalls Glen Canyon Before the Dam

"For 55 years, legendary Colorado River runner Ken Sleight has thought about the sacred sites that were submerged in Glen Canyon when it was dammed."

Source: www.kdnk.org

Mercury Concentrations in Lake Powell Higher in Side Canyons

"Results show levels of methylmercury generally increased from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir."

Source: www.usgs.gov

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Recent Stories

Water Desk

Gail Schwartz joins a majority of women on Colorado’s state water board

By Brent Gardner-Smith | 9 hours ago

Former state Sen. Gail Schwartz is expected Wednesday to join the board of directors of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a state agency established in 1937 to protect and develop the state’s water supply. In doing so, Schwartz will become part of the first female majority on the CWCB board, and she’ll be the first woman to represent the Colorado River Basin on the board. Schwartz moved to Aspen in the early 1970s, lived in Snowmass Village when she served in the state Senate for two terms (2007 to ’15) and then moved to Crested Butte. While there, she lost to Rep. Scott Tipton in her race for Congress in 2016. She has since moved to Basalt and has now volunteered for a three-year term on the CWCB board.

Aspen History

Hope delivers Pandora’s Box on Aspen Mountain

By Tim Cooney, Aspen Journalism | March 11, 2019

The terrain to be added to Aspen Mountain comes with a history fitting of its name.

Pair of lawsuits challenges need for more Colorado River water

By Lindsay Fendt, Aspen Journalism | March 9, 2019

Lawsuits from Save the Colorado are challenging demand projections in an effort to leave more water in the Colorado River system.

Water Desk

Colorado River District sees soft demand for its stored water

By Brent Gardner-Smith | February 25, 2019

Sales to cities and the energy sector are flat or declining, but sales to boost instream flows hold promise.

Water Desk

Colorado River District seeking to ease tax limitations

By Brent Gardner-Smith | February 20, 2019

97 percent of the district’s revenue comes from property taxes, but state tax laws are reducing its revenue stream.

Reclamation official explains drought measures in lower Colorado River basin

By Brent Gardner-Smith | February 9, 2019

Reservoir levels are dropping, future hydrology is scary, and water must be saved.

Runoff in Colorado River basin likely below-average, federal official warns

By Brent Gardner-Smith | February 7, 2019

Despite the welcome snowstorms in Colorado, dry soil in the upper Colorado River basin may keep runoff levels below average.

Water Desk

State of Colorado, water managers, set to work on water-use reduction plan

By Brent Gardner-Smith | February 4, 2019

Colorado is ready to investigate the feasibility of a “voluntary, temporary and compensated” water-use reduction program

Water Desk

Northwest Colorado water users wary of potential water cutbacks by state

By Lauren Blair, Aspen Journalism | January 31, 2019

The Yampa-White-Green Basin Roundtable forms a “big river” committee as the state delves into “demand management.”

On Aspen Journalism

Aspen Journalism 2018 annual report

By Brent Gardner-Smith | January 22, 2019

Aspen Journalism in 2018 covered the drying of the Colorado River basin and the efforts by the City of Aspen to move conditional water rights out of the Castle and Maroon creek valleys.