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  • Western Colorado water purchases stir up worries about the future of farming
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Environment Desk

Increase in human-caused bear deaths raises concern for forest health

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | August 3, 2020

When natural foods aren’t abundant, bears are forced to move around more, searching for calories. This makes bears more vulnerable to hunters, and it also leads to an increase in roadkills and conflicts in developed areas. 

Environment Desk

CORE funding at risk; ‘transition year’ ahead

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | June 9, 2020

Fees from Pitkin County’s Renewable Energy Mitigation Program are likely to continue to decline because of recent changes to the building and energy codes.

Environment Desk

Pitkin County targets building codes in effort to reduce emissions

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | May 26, 2020

Recent changes to Pitkin County’s land-use and energy codes hold new and renovated residential buildings to strict efficiency standards that officials say will significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Environment Desk

COVID-19 brings extra hazards to wildfire season

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | May 16, 2020

Wildland firefighters across the country are working together to share information and best practices, mostly through a website called Wildland Fire Lessons Learned.

Environment Desk

Forest Service plans for fire season, tourist season amid COVID-19 concerns

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | May 12, 2020

Every summer, the White River National Forest brings on more than 100 seasonal employees. Many of them live in tight quarters and bunkhouses, but not this year.

Environment Desk

Environmental nonprofits adjust to life in a pandemic

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | April 16, 2020

Amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, people continue to turn to nature for solace, and local environmental organizations are adjusting to the crisis and working to prepare for what comes next.

Environment Desk

Airport recommendations depend on pollution mitigation, cooperation from airlines

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | April 16, 2020

The vision committee is clear that it wants a cleaner airport, but there are real challenges to making that happen.

Environment Desk

Airport expansion may not resolve pollution and noise problems

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy and Stephen R. Miller | April 8, 2020

A citizen’s group recommends expansion, but only if mitigation is included. And a 2018 EA says without mitigation, noise, flights and emissions either increase or stay about the same.

Environment Desk

Electricity use drops nearly 10% as ski lifts close early

By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | March 27, 2020

Since the ski lifts between Aspen and Vail stopped spinning on March 14, Holy Cross has seen demand for electricity fall 8% to 10%. 

Environment Desk

State proposes “special management area” for local mountain lions

By Olivia Emmer | March 21, 2020

CPW has proposed the Glenwood Special Management Area, where the agency will focus on suppressing the lion population.

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    Latest Update: 1/15/21 Next Update: 1/18/21 Aspen Journalism is pulling together data from state and county websites, as well as from other news outlets. This webpage is updated every weekday after 4 p.m. If you have a tip you want to share, any suggestions, or you just want to chat, you can email the reporter.  What's noteworthy in today's COVID-19 data?  Eagle County added 38 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.

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