Aspen Journalism

Aspen Journalism Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit journalism organization based in Aspen, Colorado.

Our mission is to produce investigative and in-depth journalism for those with a stake in the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. Aspen Journalism:

covers local government organizations and the issues on their agendas;

makes local public data and information more accessible;

produces investigative reports;

collaborates with other local news producers on stories and projects; and

produces news content on the Aspen Journal website and on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

Pitkin County is considering major changes to its short-term rental program as the number of licensed properties continu...
08/20/2026

Pitkin County is considering major changes to its short-term rental program as the number of licensed properties continues to decline under regulations adopted to limit vacation rentals and their impacts on housing and communities.

The county has lost more than one-quarter of its STR permits since the program began in 2022, while rules requiring a rental history dating to 2017-22 now prevent some new applicants from obtaining licenses.

A consultant recommends making more properties eligible while capping permits by geographic zone and awarding them through a lottery. Commissioners are weighing whether the changes can make the program more sustainable while continuing to limit the size of the STR market.



Pitkin County commissioners at a work session Tuesday asked for additional information about proposed changes to the county’s short-term rental regulations that would make more properties eligible for a license, while implementing new STR caps tailored to different areas.

The Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys face a growing affordable-housing crisis as housing costs outpace local inco...
08/20/2026

The Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys face a growing affordable-housing crisis as housing costs outpace local incomes and mobile home residents risk displacement when parks are sold for redevelopment. A collaborative model brings residents, local governments, nonprofits, lenders, businesses and private donors together to purchase parks and convert them to deed-restricted, resident-owned communities. The model has helped preserve three parks, but local leaders say the park-by-park approach is not sustainable. Expanding the strategy will require longer timelines, stronger protections and financing tools that can support more communities facing displacement.



Converting mobile home parks to deed-restricted, resident-owned communities is a model that has taken shape locally through a collaborative effort involving regional organizations, nonprofit lenders, local governments, businesses and private donors — along with the park residents.

With Aspen Mountain's Lift 1A in the process of removal and construction moving forward in Aspen's Lift One corridor, sk...
08/17/2026

With Aspen Mountain's Lift 1A in the process of removal and construction moving forward in Aspen's Lift One corridor, skiers will be taking the Silver Queen Gondola or the new Nell Bell lift up the mountain until the 2029-30 ski season. A new construction sequencing agreement brings together Aspen Skiing Co., the city of Aspen and developers of Aman Aspen and Chalet Alpina to coordinate work on the two lodging projects, historic Skiers Chalet buildings, parks and public infrastructure, ski-area facilities, restaurants, gathering spaces and a snowsports museum.

The upgraded chairlift was the centerpiece of the project narrowly approved by Aspen voters in 2019. The redevelopment of the Lift One corridor has since grown around that voter-approved lift, bringing together the ski-area improvements with significant private development and public amenities.



The agreement gives everyone good reason to stay on track: In addition to the benefits of mutually agreed-upon progress, both SkiCo and lodging developers could face steep fees if they cause certain delays that impact the new lift.

The 15-mile reach of the Colorado River between Palisade and the Gunnison River is a chronically depleted stretch of riv...
08/15/2026

The 15-mile reach of the Colorado River between Palisade and the Gunnison River is a chronically depleted stretch of river that also provides critical habitat for endangered fish.

During a recent six-and-a-half-mile float, paddlers encountered flows of about 93 cfs – about 70% of which was available thanks to the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Without the program's water contribution to instream flow, the Colorado River would drop to about 25 cfs.

Nearly all of the river’s flows are being diverted to the Grand Valley’s agricultural producers. Despite what feels like a heavy draw from the river, users have reduced their diversions from 1,950 cfs to 1,450 cfs to conserve water for later in the season.

Even with additional stored water being contributed by water users, including water stored in Ruedi Reservoir, Grand Valley Water Users Association officials say they cannot guarantee deliveries to farmers after Sept. 1.



The Colorado River and its water users are now experiencing the consequences of the lowest winter snowpack on record, exceptionally hot temperatures and resulting low streamflows.

Two former residents of The Homestead apartment complex in Carbondale have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit allegin...
08/07/2026

Two former residents of The Homestead apartment complex in Carbondale have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging their corporate landlord failed to address a yearslong cockroach infestation, sewage leaks, hidden fees and eviction threats. The Denver-based company that owns the property has called the claims "groundless." If the class is certified, the lawsuit could include current and former tenants who lived at The Homestead from June 2023 until notice is issued, highlighting concerns at one of Carbondale's few remaining lower-cost apartment complexes.

This story was produced through a social justice reporting collaboration between Aspen Journalism and Aspen Public Radio.

If the residents are successful in their lawsuit, DeGolia estimates that more than 200 current and former tenants of The Homestead would be eligible to receive some or all of their rent payments back depending on how long they lived at the property.

Water managers will increase releases from Ruedi Reservoir starting Monday, August 3. Flows in the Fryingpan River are e...
07/30/2026

Water managers will increase releases from Ruedi Reservoir starting Monday, August 3. Flows in the Fryingpan River are expected to typically be between 300 and 500 cfs while the releases are happening, though they could climb higher.

Above 300 cfs, wading becomes difficult and potentially dangerous for anglers.⁠

While officials aim to avoid flooding and have been directed to aim for flows below 350cfs, higher flows are expected to affect anglers and recreation on the Fryingpan as reservoir operations respond to one of the driest years on record.

The release is part of the the River District's 2026 drought response plan to help offset severe drought impacts downstream, sending additional water through the Fryingpan River to support Grand Valley water users and other needs in the Colorado River basin.



Residents and anglers can expect to see high flows in the Fryingpan River in the month of August as water managers increase releases out of Ruedi Reservoir in an attempt to relieve the worst drought conditions downstream.

Four years after Aspen and Pitkin County adopted stricter short-term rental regulations to address housing, environmenta...
07/20/2026

Four years after Aspen and Pitkin County adopted stricter short-term rental regulations to address housing, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, officials say the policies are largely meeting their intended goals. Now, both jurisdictions are reviewing whether permit caps, taxes and eligibility rules should be updated to address long waitlists, longtime property owners and other unintended consequences.

Read the story on aspenjournalism.org for interactive data and visualizations.

Stricter short-term rental rules passed four years ago by Aspen and Pitkin County are achieving their stated aims of limiting the vacation-rental marketplace, while also raising questions about the programs' fitness, adaptability and unattended consequences.

Colorado officials have announced a new state-run conservation program that will use $100 million in federal funding to ...
07/17/2026

Colorado officials have announced a new state-run conservation program that will use $100 million in federal funding to pay water users to voluntarily reduce water use in 2027 and 2028, part of a broader effort to address the Colorado River's ongoing drought and declining reservoir levels.

The program aims to broaden participation beyond agriculture while avoiding harm to rural communities, encouraging environmental benefits and local control.

Although questions remain about conservation targets and how saved water will be used, the initiative represents a significant step toward reducing demand as Colorado and other basin states confront mounting water shortages and an uncertain river-management future.

Colorado officials Wednesday announced the creation of a state-run water conservation program.

Garfield County Libraries’ new executive director, Abraham Korah, takes the helm as the district continues to navigate a...
07/13/2026

Garfield County Libraries’ new executive director, Abraham Korah, takes the helm as the district continues to navigate a contentious debate over book access and censorship.

A former Glenwood Springs branch director, Korah said he will defend what he sees as “the freedom to read” while fostering respectful dialogue across differing viewpoints.

He succeeds Jamie LaRue amid ongoing disputes over library materials and governance, while also prioritizing libraries as community gathering spaces, building on growing library use and preparing the district for a potential future mill levy renewal.

https://aspenjournalism.org/new-head-of-garfield-county-libraries-wants-to-bring-community-together-and-protect-the-freedom-to-read/

“I know that Abraham is also committed to the strategic goals that we currently have in place, and he's a big champion of intellectual freedom and the First Amendment, which is part of why our staff feel so comfortable and happy having him in this new role,” said Nancy Barnes, director of branch...

Pitkin County commissioners gave preliminary approval to spend $442,500 from the Healthy Rivers Fund, which is supported...
07/11/2026

Pitkin County commissioners gave preliminary approval to spend $442,500 from the Healthy Rivers Fund, which is supported by a 0.1% countywide sales tax, to purchase 4.68 Twin Lakes water shares.

Supporters say the purchase is a rare opportunity to return water to the Western Slope's depleted headwaters.

Members of the county’s Healthy Rivers board warn the price tag for "potentially .. 1 additional cubic feet per second for two days" isn't worth straining the Healthy Rivers budget, potentially limiting future investments in water quality, habitat restoration and other watershed projects.

The issue is scheduled for a public hearing and second reading July 22.

Read more by Aspen Journalism

Against the recommendation of the Healthy Rivers board, Pitkin County commissioners on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to buy more Twin Lakes water to boost flows in the often-depleted Roaring Fork River.

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1280 Ute Avenue, Suite 9
Aspen, CO
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