Aspen Journalism

Aspen Journalism Nonprofit, in-depth investigative journalism reporting on water, environment, social justice and more

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 moving forward with an official proposal for a land exchange that would see it acquire 23 acres of U.S....
02/13/2025

Pitkin County is moving forward with an official proposal for a land exchange that would see it acquire 23 acres of U.S. Forest Service land around Wildwood Lane including a busy river access point for floaters heading to the North Star Nature Preserve.

The Wildwood put-in has been the epicenter of management challenges after the rise in popularity of stand-up paddleboarding spiked river use numbers along the mellow stretch of the Roaring Fork just upstream of Aspen.

But the land swap, where the county is offering the Forest Service nearly 350 acres spread across nine backcountry parcels it owns, invites the latest round of controversy over how to manage recreation at North Star.

Some neighbors aren’t convinced the county should own the property and have called for limitations on public use, a management tool county staff has said they can only explore once they have authority and own the land at the Wildwood put-in.

House Bill 1113 would limit planting non-functional turf, artificial turf or invasive plant species in new and redevelop...
02/10/2025

House Bill 1113 would limit planting non-functional turf, artificial turf or invasive plant species in new and redeveloped apartment or condominium housing. Local governments would also have to enact their own policies about how to limit new turf on properties not covered by HB1113 or SB5 by 2028.

The bill represents a continuing effort across the Colorado River basin to wring savings from municipal water use in the face of a warming and drying climate.

The grassroots strike and nationwide protest “Un Día Sin Inmigrantes” or “A Day Without Immigrants” aimed to call attent...
02/10/2025

The grassroots strike and nationwide protest “Un Día Sin Inmigrantes” or “A Day Without Immigrants” aimed to call attention to the important social and economic role immigrants play in communities. Last Monday, many immigrant-run businesses were closed and a noticeable number of students and staff at schools stayed home in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys as part of the nationwide protest. Eleanor Bennett talked to business owners, schools and Rep. Elizabeth Velasco to learn more.

Alvarez said even people who have legal residency are worried about losing their status because of the severity of the push to crackdown on immigration as well as the spread of rumors and misinformation.

Reporter Eleanor Bennett spoke with Habitat for Humanity of the RFV President and CEO Gail Schwartz about what she’s lea...
02/01/2025

Reporter Eleanor Bennett spoke with Habitat for Humanity of the RFV President and CEO Gail Schwartz about what she’s learned from her decades of work tackling the valley’s affordable housing challenges. Schwartz is stepping down from the position in April. Listen to or read the interview 👇

Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley President and CEO Gail Schwartz announced this month that she’ll be stepping down in April. Reporter Eleanor Bennett spoke with Schwartz about what she’s learned from her decades of work tackling the valley’s affordable housing challenges.

“I have great confidence in the incalculable forces of the spirit. The future depends on it. If these spiritual forces a...
01/23/2025

“I have great confidence in the incalculable forces of the spirit. The future depends on it. If these spiritual forces are brought into play, the world’s future will be improved. Behind materialism it is often possible to discover great spiritual forces at work. And behind spirituality an element of materialism also exists.”

Part two of a four-part Aspen Journalism series on Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s visit to Aspen where he gave the keynote address at the Goethe Bicentennial of 1949 and launched Aspen on a high trajectory toward the ideals of humanism.

"I have great confidence in the incalculable forces of the spirit. The future depends on it. If these spiritual forces are brought into play, the world’s future will be improved. Behind materialism it is often possible to discover great spiritual forces at work. And behind spirituality an element ...

The first of a four-part Aspen Journalism series on Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s visit to Aspen where he gave the keynote add...
01/23/2025

The first of a four-part Aspen Journalism series on Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s visit to Aspen where he gave the keynote address at the Goethe Bicentennial of 1949 and launched Aspen on a high trajectory toward the ideals of humanism.

A new and growing movement launched in September by a handful of community thought leaders is seeking to revive the foundational values of Aspen. They are reaching back 75 years to the lofty moral tone that Albert Schweitzer brought here when he honored another moralistic avatar: Johann Wolfgang von...

With a robust editorial independence policy that outlines our journalistic standards, transparency about who our donors ...
12/31/2024

With a robust editorial independence policy that outlines our journalistic standards, transparency about who our donors are and the promise that funders never influence our coverage, you can be sure your money goes to producing more of these collaborative deep dives into Colorado River issues. Thank you for your support and for helping us achieve our goal of better informing citizens and strengthening the local, investigative media landscape. - https://mailchi.mp/aspenjournalism.org/heather-sackett-24

Aspen-based “Hospitality Matters,” which recently became a 501(c)4 nonprofit, is spreading the word about ways for peopl...
12/30/2024

Aspen-based “Hospitality Matters,” which recently became a 501(c)4 nonprofit, is spreading the word about ways for people working at restaurants and other service jobs to take care of their mental health during this time. “One of our missions is to get the word out that there’s help out there, and there’s local places you can go,” Callahan said.

The holidays are meant to be spent with family and loved ones, but for many who work in hospitality in our valley, it can mean demanding clients and long hours.  That’s why Aspen-based “Hospitality Matters,” which recently became a 501(c)4 nonprofit, is spreading the word about ways for peopl...

Censorship is a ‘slippery slope,’ appointee says, but ‘reasonable’ restrictions could be considered
12/21/2024

Censorship is a ‘slippery slope,’ appointee says, but ‘reasonable’ restrictions could be considered

Amid ongoing controversy over Garfield County’s library board appointment process and whether book restrictions should be considered at the county’s six county’s six libraries, officials received 27 applications for three seats that were open or up for reappointment by the end of this year.

Our relationship with our collaborators – newsrooms of all models across the state – are symbiotic. By giving our report...
12/19/2024

Our relationship with our collaborators – newsrooms of all models across the state – are symbiotic. By giving our reporting away, we successfully backfill the contraction of the news industry. These publications and radio stations have published and broadcast our work, helping us reach millions of readers and listeners, allowing us to provide $1,106,000 of in-depth, investigative journalism to communities across Colorado – for free. Will you donate to support us in this effort? - https://mailchi.mp/aspenjournalism.org/collaborative-symbiotic

More than 2.6 million acre-feet of new reservoir storage is planned for western Colorado, while the Upper Colorado River...
12/17/2024

More than 2.6 million acre-feet of new reservoir storage is planned for western Colorado, while the Upper Colorado River Basin states (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico) currently use 2.1 million acre-feet a year. Most of these rights would be stored in not-yet-built reservoirs.

Colorado has conditional water rights tied to 2.6 million acre-feet worth of additional reservoir storage on the Western Slope

Join us! From 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Morgridge Commons at the Colorado Mountain College campus in downtown ...
12/11/2024

Join us! From 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Morgridge Commons at the Colorado Mountain College campus in downtown Glenwood Springs, Aspen Journalism and Community Builders are hosting a panel discussion that seeks to engage the community in a conversation that expands on the idea of the interrelatedness of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Where are we at as a community? Where do we want to go? What would be a meaningful outcome? Please join us to help guide the discussion that will include opportunities for audience interaction.

Meadows promises pay ‘parity’ for J1s after summer students raise complaints, about housing and working conditions. One ...
12/04/2024

Meadows promises pay ‘parity’ for J1s after summer students raise complaints, about housing and working conditions. One visa sponsorship agency offered students refunds, telling them they won’t place clients with the employer again.

Each year, hundreds of young people from around the world get J-1 visas to work on the mountain and at local businesses in Aspen. But complaints about housing and working conditions raise questions about a program that can make international students vulnerable to unfair treatment.

Your gift will be matched 3X, starting today! Colorado Media Project has pledged $5,000 in matching funds to Aspen Journ...
12/03/2024

Your gift will be matched 3X, starting today! Colorado Media Project has pledged $5,000 in matching funds to Aspen Journalism and an additional match for each recurring monthly donation pledged. Thank you to our board members for creating an additional match, so your gift will have triple the impact! NewsMatch also has a $1,000 incentive if we can find 50 new donors before Dec. 31. - https://mailchi.mp/aspenjournalism.org/giving-newsday-24

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Videos

Water results from July 16, when Grizzly Reservoir was drained sending orange sediment down Lincoln Creek and into the Roaring Fork, were finally released. Results show high levels of iron and aluminum — aluminum results pictured here. Pitkin County officials say there was a minimal biological effects on fish and other aquatic life. Read the story and see the test results.

Find current streamflow information for river stations across the Colorado River basin, including flow, stage, class, and percent of normal median and mean. Visit aspenjournalism.org (link in bio) to view this interactive data compiled by the Aspen Journalism Data Desk. Real-time river data available here: https://aspenjournalism.org/real-time-streamflow/

New short-term-rental rules limit supply, restrict future growth
New short-term-rental rules limit supply, restrict future growth

The Aspen Journalism Data Desk took stock of new short-term rental (STR) regulations in the city of Aspen and Pitkin County. Building a map showing where each licensed STR in the city and county is located. Via records requests, Aspen Journalism obtained information about each permitted STR including its address, licensee and management contact and laid that into a data visualization showing each property’s location on a map. The mapping tool is accompanied by an analysis of what was learned from the permit data, summarized in this video by Lassalle. https://aspenjournalism.org/new-short-term-rental-rules-limit-supply-restrict-future-growth/

Latest Update from Tracking the Curve: 2/22/23 Aspen Journalism is pulling together data from Colorado and Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin County websites, as well as from other news outlets. Tracking the Curve is updated every Wednesday by Laurine Lassalle, Aspen Journalism’s data desk editor. See the full update here: Lhttps://aspenjournalism.org/aspen-area-virus-information-sources/

In recent days, the water in Lincoln Creek below Grizzly Reservoir has turned a milky green color and a sediment — yellow in some places, white in others — has settled on the streambed. The water flowing into the reservoir from upper Lincoln Creek ran yellow on Saturday. Defunct upstream mines could be contributing to issue. Heather Sackett reports from the Aspen Journalism Water Desk: https://aspenjournalism.org/agencies-looking-into-water-quality-on-lincoln-creek/

This week at Aspen Journalism, we published a collaborative investigation between our Data Desk Editor Laurine Lassalle and Aspen Public Radio’s Caroline Llanes that took a panoramic view of how COVID-19 has played out across a wide swath of our region. Delivered in two parts, the first installment surveyed prevailing attitudes and responses across six Western Slope counties — Pitkin, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Delta and Gunnison — and recalled a defining time in the course of the coronavirus pandemic, which was when public health regulations became the purview of each individual county, as opposed to state health officials. Part two dove into the data from each county, with some interesting findings that relate to the nature of COVID in these different places. The Roundup, AJ's weekly newsletter, dives deeper into these stories, and shares more original stories from Aspen Journalism and other news we've been reading. Take a read, and subscribe to stay informed weekly! https://aspenjournalism.org/newsletter/the-roundup-analyzing-our-collective-history-a-reminder-weve-been-through-something-bigger/

Each of Aspen Journalism’s reporters and editors, as well as two freelance journalists, took home first-place awards. We also won best newsletter. Thank you to our readers and supporters. Take a detailed look at the awards and award-winning stories here: https://aspenjournalism.org/aspen-journalism-wins-six-awards-in-annual-colorado-press-association-news-media-contest/

"Opinions differ on timeline as Crystal River Wild & Scenic efforts move ahead" by Heather Sackett The different philosophies underscore a rift between those who say a cautious and thorough multi-year approach is what’s needed to ensure success and those who say mounting threats to the river, driven by the climate crisis, demand bold, immediate action. Link in bio to read the story on aspenjournalism.org #aspenjournalism #waterdesk #waterjournalism #nonprofit #crystalriver #marbleco #carbondaleeco #aspenco #wildandscenic #colorado #coloradowater

Lake Powell's storage volume dropped 6% recently, even as the its surface elevation continued its seasonal rise. The reason? On July 1, officials updated Powell's storage capacity based on a recent study tracking ever-increasing sedimentation levels. Read: "Recent drop in Lake Powell’s storage shows how much space sediment is taking up" by Laurine Lasalle. https://aspenjournalism.org/recent-drop-in-lake-powells-storage-shows-how-much-space-sediment-is-taking-up/

State officials are hoping dire climate predictions and water shortages will convince Coloradans to get involved in planning how to share a dwindling resource. CWCB staff released the 2nd iteration of the Colorado Water Plan, now open for public comment Read the story by Heather Sackett here: https://aspenjournalism.org/state-officials-looking-for-engagement-on-updated-water-plan/

The Uinta Basin Railway would provide transportation capacity to quadruple oil production in the Uinta Basin at a time when scientists are sounding an alarm over CO2 emissions. One lawsuit challenging the project takes aim at mineral royalty dollars funding its planning. Along the rail route for the waxy crude: Glenwood Canyon. Read the story here: https://aspenjournalism.org/uinta-basin-railway-faces-obstacles/

As climate change continues to shrink the nation’s second-largest reservoir, water managers are scrambling to prevent the release of an invasive fish into the Grand Canyon. Read "Declining levels at Lake Powell increase risk to humpback chub downstream" by Heather Sackett here: https://aspenjournalism.org/declining-levels-at-lake-powell-increase-risk-to-humpback-chub-downstream/

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Aspen Journalism: local, nonprofit, investigative and collaborative

Aspen Journalism is a local, independent, nonprofit and investigative journalism organization based in Aspen, Colorado.

Our mission is to produce quality journalism, as well-informed citizens make better decisions.

We take an investigative approach to beat reporting and do so in collaboration with other local and regional news organizations.

After we publish our stories on the Aspen Journalism website, other news organizations are invited to publish them, without charge, under our Creative Commons guidelines.