Aspen Journalism

10/24/2025

Snowmass Village's water supply sourced from East Snowmass Creek faces heightened wildfire risks due to its location in a fire-prone wilderness area. Experts emphasize the need for proactive measures to safeguard this critical resource, highlighting the vulnerability of systems in the Roaring Fork Valley and advocating for advanced planning.

“There are some quite vulnerable systems in the Roaring Fork Valley — Snowmass being at the very top of that list — that really need some advance planning,” said a senior hydrologist with Wright Water Engineers.

10/24/2025

A group of recreation advocates are hoping Colorado lawmakers will settle the state’s legal gray area surrounding public river access. The Colorado Stream Access Coalition is fighting for the public’s right to use the state’s waterways for recreation, a right they say is guaranteed in the Colorado Constitution.

The Colorado Stream Access Coalition is fighting for the public’s right to use the state’s waterways for recreation, a right they say is guaranteed in the Colorado Constitution.

10/16/2025

The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District saw nearly half its staff depart since January, severely limiting its ability to maintain visitor services, enforce wilderness regulations and engage with communities. With multiple top officials departing the White River National Forest, Warner and other departing leaders warn that declining capacity and morale threaten public access, forest stewardship and long‐term resource planning.

Working two full-time jobs was taxing, and it’s true that the federal government pays far less than local governments in the same resort communities. But the real push to leave the agency came from Washington.

10/10/2025

A surge in private clubs across the Roaring Fork Valley reflects a broader trend of exclusivity in social spaces. While these clubs offer members a sense of belonging, and range from blue-collar bars to billionaire's escapes, they also highlight tensions between inclusion and exclusion. The members-only model underscores the complexities of community and access in affluent areas.

10/09/2025

A new report by the Great Basin Water Network and allied groups offers nine recommendations in an effort to stabilize the Colorado River system, with some hoping the report will be used as a blueprint for taking action. With new guidelines needing to be in place by Oct. 1, 2026, "the clock is ticking."

10/01/2025

A reminder that tonight from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Aspen Chapel Gallery is the opening reception of "Tell it Like It Is." The mixed-media exhibition is part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Aspen Chapel Gallery. We are honored to be selected as the nonprofit partner of this exhibition featuring works by Amy Beidleman, John Bozza, Jake Bozza, Tim Cooney, Judy Haas, Molly Haberman, Larkin Horn, Shelley Safiie Marolt, Greg McFadden, Gaard Moses, Will Oakley, Karen Teague and Andre Wille.

Visual arts and journalism are different mediums but they are two ways of getting to the truth and sharing it with others. We look forward to the convergence of these communities at tonight’s event, and we hope to see you there!

10/01/2025

Thank you to Aspen Daily News for the feature of "Tell it Like It Is," a mixed-media exhibition opening tonight from 4 to 7p.m. at the Aspen Chapel Gallery. We are honored to be selected as the nonprofit partner of this exhibition.

As noted in a piece about the show in Tuesday’s Aspen Daily News, visual arts and journalism are different mediums but they are two ways of getting to the truth and sharing it with others. We look forward to the convergence of these communities at tonight’s event, and we hope to see you there!

The Aspen Chapel Gallery’s new exhibit “Tell it Like it Is” opens Wednesday with a reception from 4-7 p.m. The gallery is located in the basement of the Aspen Chapel.

10/01/2025

We are honored to announce that three new members have recently joined our Board of Directors: Morgan Boyles, Graeme Means and Tarn Udall. Their dedication to open space, environmental conservation and historic preservation have greatly benefited those who love the greater Roaring Fork region, and we welcome the expertise and passion each brings to our volunteer board. If you see them, please don’t hesitate to thank them for their service to our independent, nonprofit newsroom. - https://mailchi.mp/aspenjournalism.org/members-of-our-board

09/23/2025

Debate over the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s plan to purchase the Shoshone hydropower plant’s senior water rights for the benefit of the environment has intensified. The outcome will have a significant impact on who controls one of Colorado’s most significant water rights, as well as the future of collaboration across the state’s great water divide.

Over two days of hearings, Colorado water managers laid out their arguments related to the Shoshone water rights on the Colorado River and who should have the authority to control it.

09/23/2025

A former J-1 visa student won about $17,000 in back pay after Aspen Meadows Resort was found to have withheld wages. The case follows earlier concerns from international workers, prompting the resort to revise policies and pledge pay parity.

Velichkovikj was one of about two dozen J-1 employees at the Meadows who sent a letter at the end of last summer detailing a range of concerns involving tipping and wage practices, workplace treatment and housing conditions.

09/11/2025

Delta County ranchers are urging Colorado lawmakers to enable voluntary, paid water conservation programs that credit participants and allow conserved water to be shepherded into Lake Powell. Unlike the federal System Conservation Program, which pays for temporary reductions, the proposed bill would ensure conserved water is legally protected and recognized. Advocates argue such reforms are essential to bolster agricultural resilience and protect supplies, while critics worry it could encourage sales to downriver users instead of true conservation.

Allowing the state of Colorado to shepherd conserved water resurrects old concerns on the Western Slope.

09/04/2025

Traffic experts warn that incentives alone, like carpooling apps, buses or even a gondola, won’t solve Aspen’s congestion. A 2024 traffic-analysis memorandum by Jacobs Engineering estimates that by 2050 it will take nearly 67 minutes to drive the 5.5-mile corridor entering Aspen during rush hours – up from the existing 32 minutes of travel time. Real relief requires pairing these “carrots” with “sticks,” such as parking limits or congestion pricing. Otherwise, induced demand will keep traffic and emissions rising, despite alternative transportation efforts.

The preferred alternative is projected to have a negligible impact on congestion, and in some cases makes it worse. “If that’s all we do, we’re stuck with an hour and seven minutes from Brush Creek to the S-curve basically, and that is not a happy picture,” said John Bennett, a former Aspen ...