HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Only 022326AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
February 23, 2026
4:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A Continued Stage Two Water Restrictions, Spring Drought Outlook, and Drought
Mitigation and Response Plan Update
I.B Work Session Follow Up Memo - Lumberyard Developer Update Jan 26
Continuation of Stage Two Drought Information Only Report.docx
26JAN2026 Council WS Follow Up - Lumberyard Update.docx
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INFORMATION ONLY REPORT
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Megan Killer, Water Efficient Landscaping Standards Technician
Steve Hunter, Special Projects Engineer
THROUGH: Erin Loughlin Molliconi, Utilities Director
Tyler Christoff, Deputy City Manager
MEETING DATE: February 23, 2026
SUBJECT: Continued Stage Two Water Restrictions, Spring Drought Outlook,
and Drought Mitigation and Response Plan Update
INTENDED OUTCOME & SUMMARY:
This report is for informational purposes only. No action is requested of Council at this
time. This report is to inform Council of the City of Aspen Drought Response
Committee’s recommendation to continue the current Stage Two Water Shortage
Declaration while preparing for a potential Stage Three Water Shortage Declaration.
This report also informs Council of the intent to update the Drought Mitigation and
Response Plan, which was formally adopted through Resolution #062 Series of 2020 .
Council can expect representatives of the Drought Response Committee to bring a ny
recommended changes to the Water Shortage Declaration if there are not significant
improvements in drought conditions, as well as to bring updates to the Drought
Mitigation and Response Plan and the relevant Code sections for approval in the
coming months.
DISCUSSION:
Aspen’s municipal water supply comes from Castle and Maroon Creeks. The Aspen
water system has very little water storage, relying primarily on direct streamflow. This
system does not allow for the controlled release of water to match water demand.
Instead, it depends on the consistent release of water from snowmelt throughout the
year. During drier than normal years, runoff conditions may not match the timing of the
City’s typical demands and reductions in typical water usage may be necessary. During
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these conditions, the City’s water policy enables Council to enact its Water Shortage
Ordinance by selecting an appropriate water shortage stage. The City adopted its water
shortage policy through an Ordinance of the Municipal Code on July 14, 2020, via
resolution #061. The Stage One Water Shortage declared by City Council on June 10,
2025 (Resolution #81, Series of 2025) was elevated to a Stage Two W ater Shortage
through Resolution #112, Series of 2025 on August 12, 2025 and effective September
1, 2025. It has remained in effect since that time.
The City’s Drought Response Committee is represented by the following City
Departments: City Manager’s Office, Communications, Engineering, Environmental
Health and Sustainability, Parks and Open Space, and Utilities. The Committee has
reviewed the latest snowpack, drought data and outlooks for Aspen and the Roaring
Fork watershed and anticipates recommending a Stage Three Water Shortage
Declaration if conditions do not improve significantly in the second half of winter
(February-April). Historically, March is the best month for snow and typically has the
highest levels of precipitation for the year.
The Drought Response Committee meets once a month, or more often as necessary, to
present current data, discuss drought impacts and enforcement protocols, as well as to
make recommendations for Council adoption of any changes to water shortage
restrictions. The committee meets next on March 12, 2026 and on April 16, 2026.
Snowpack & Drought Conditions
Since the last information only report to council on November 18, 2025, drought
conditions have degraded throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed (Figure 1). The
February 12, 2026 US Drought Monitor (Figure 2) has Aspen and Pitkin County mostly
in the Exceptional Drought (D4) Category with some of the County in Severe Drought
(D3) Category. The drought monitor is one of multiple drought indicators the City uses
to determine local drought conditions.
Figure 1 US Drought Monitor Change Since November 2025 (%)
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Figure 2 The US Drought Monitor for Colorado with Aspen Starred
December 2025 was the third hottest December on record. The average snowfall in
December and January was near average, but with the unusually hot temperatures, the
snowfall did not result in significant accumulation.
NRCS Snow-Water-Equivalent (SWE) for the Roaring Fork watershed is another
indicator used to help predict the amount of streamflow we can expect. As of February
12, 2026 SWE is at 54% of median (Figure 3).
Figure 3 Roaring Fork Valley Watershed Snow-Water-Equivalent at Record Low
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NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts that drought could persist in Western
Colorado with a 33-40% probability of higher-than-normal temperatures and equal
chances for above, below or average precipitation for February, March and April 2026
(Figures 4 and 5).
Figure 5 Precipitation Outlook February-April 2026
Figure 4 Temperature Outlook for February-April 2026
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Financial Impacts of Stage Two
Rate surcharges for monthly water rates for Stage Two Water Shortage are
summarized in Table 1. In the winter months, when irrigation no longer impacts
demands on the system, only about 1-3% of water accounts hit the 3rd and 4th tiers.
Billing Tier
Stage Two Water Shortage %
Surcharge
Tier I 0%
Tier II 0%
Tier III 50%
Tier IV 75%
Billing Tier
Buttermilk Metro
District
Stage Two Water Shortage %
Surcharge
Tier I 0%
Tier II 62.5%
One-Tier Rate
Structure (Bulk
Water / Fill Stations)
Stage Two Water Shortage %
Surcharge
Tier I 50%
Raw Water Rate
Structure
(Pressurized)
Stage Two Water Shortage %
Surcharge
Pressurized 50%
Non-pressurized 50%
Table 1: Stage Two Water Shortage Surcharges
Drought Mitigation and Response Plan Update
The City of Aspen’s Drought Mitigation and Response Plan was first adopted by Council
on July 28, 2020, via resolution #62, series of 2020 after historical droughts in 2002,
2012, and 2018 led staff to evaluate a long-term plan for water shortages. This plan
outlines indicators of drought severity for each water shortage stage along with
actionable items to meet specific reduction goals for the associated stage.
City staff plan to re-evaluate the Drought Mitigation and Response Plan with an outside
consultant. The Drought Mitigation and Response Plan is a guiding document in the
water conservation and drought conditions toolbox. The plan is intended to be reviewed
and updated as operational conditions or lessons learned through implementation of the
staged drought response plan may require. The intended updates will include
incorporating the most recent drought data, assessing each drought stage’s indicators
and water reduction goals, as well as expanding and clarifying enforcement measures
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of each stage. Staff plan to bring the updated plan to Council f or adoption and approval,
as well as any updates to the appropriate sections of the Municipal Code. Staff hope to
have any updates ready by the end of May 2026.
NEXT STEPS:
Staff will continue to monitor conditions, and if improvements to the US Drought
Monitor, local snowpack, and temperature predictions are not seen by late March or
early April, it is very likely the Drought Response Committee will be coming to Council
with recommendations for a stage degradation change.
Staff intend to have the Drought Mitigation and Response Plan updated by May of 2026.
Once it is updated, staff will present the plan and any relevant code changes for
Council’s approval. This is expected to be in May or June 2026.
ATTACHMENTS:
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
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FOLLOW-UP REPORT
ORIGINAL MEETING DATE: January 26, 2026
FOLLOW-UP MEMO DATE: February 3, 2026
SUBJECT: Lumberyard Developer Update
PRESENTED BY: Chris Everson, Project Manager
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Richards and Councilmembers Doyle,
Guth, Rose and Benedetti
______________________________________________________________________
WORK SESSION DISCUSSION SUMMARY:
Staff and Kimball Crangle, Colorado Market President for Gorman & Company, presented
an update on the private developer’s progress since the July 2025 contract approval. This
included review of the City’s $250 million contribution and the schedule leading to Closing
#1 in April, which will cover phase 0 infrastructure and phase 1/building 1 (104 units) –
with construction planned to begin soon after, and with building 1 expected to open in
mid‑2028. Closing #2 is planned for spring 2027 and will include phase 2/building 2 (91
units) and phase 3/building 3 (82 units), with anticipated occupancy in early and
mid‑2029.
There was a question about what in Gorman’s implementation plans will be notably
different from the recorded planned development (PD) designs, and there was also a
questions about work in process on easements.
NEXT STEPS:
Staff plans to return at the March 9 work session for the following agenda item:
Closing #1 final budget, introduction to closing documents
(Staff will also provide the additional information requested above.)
Staff is also preparing to present the following resolution for Council review and approval
at the March 24 regular meeting:
City Council Resolution to approve Closing #1 documents
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
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