After the city took a rare step in seeking public input, staff is rejecting the overwhelming suggestion to abandon the rights. David Hornbacher, who is heading up the project for the city, wrote in a memo to city council that staff recommends keeping those rights.
Aspen Public Radio’s Elizabeth Stewart-Severy discussed this decision with Brent Gardner-Smith, who covers water issues across Colorado and the west for the local nonprofit Aspen Journalism. Earlier this summer, Gardner-Smith reported on the City of Aspen’s conditional water rights to build reservoirs on Castle and Maroon creeks.
“I certainly hope that the Aspen City Council didn’t need emails from citizens to understand that building a 15-story tall dam within view of Maroon Bells in one of the most cherished places on the planet, might be offensive to some citizens,” Gardner-Smith said.
Hornbacher cited uncertainty about climate change as a key factor in his recommendation, but Gardner-Smith pointed out that the city has not yet conducted all the necessary research.
“If you really think you need two reservoirs to meet the demand for water in Aspen, shouldn’t you do a really good analysis of where that storage should go and if there’s better locations than a spot just below the confluence of East and West Maroon Creeks?” Gardner-Smith said.
City staff will present its recommendation to keep those water rights during a meeting today that begins at 4 p.m.
