Earlier this week, Aspen City Council heard an update on studies of the town’s risk for water storage.
Consultant George Oamek, an agricultural economist with Headwaters Corp., is analyzing the risks to Aspen’s water system. Oamek said his preliminary findings show that climate change presents the biggest risk and uncertainty.
Aspen municipal water comes from Castle and Maroon creeks; Oamek noted that if there were to be a shortage, the first impact would be to the instream flow, which is intended as an environmental protection, not the supply of potable water to residents.
This is the first of several presentations to council, and Oamek said more data is necessary, including new gauges on both creeks to accurately measure flows.
