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Colorado - Fri. 09/11/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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U.S. STRIKES COLORADO RIVER DEAL WITH MEXICO
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Officials from the United States and Mexico announced Wednesday a Colorado River water-sharing deal for next two years as the basin continues to be overstressed by prolonged drought. The short-term deal, formally known as Minute 334, calls for Mexico to cut 250,000 acre-feet, or more than 100,000 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water, in both 2027 and 2028. It also establishes an environmental work group and a pilot program to manage the salinity of Colorado River water as it reaches Mexico. “This Minute makes sure water is shared fairly among our users and protects the health of the Colorado River during these difficult times,” Chad McIntosh, commissioner of the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, said in a news release. “Both countries deserve a lot of credit for agreeing to these water reductions and other measures.”
In late August, the federal government announced its near-term management plan for two immense reservoirs, lakes Mead and Powell, and water cuts for three states, Arizona, California and Nevada. The downstream states will cut their water use by 1.25 million acre-feet in total in each year, 2027 and 2028. (One acre-foot roughly equals the annual water use of two to four households.) Nevada sued in federal court to block the federal plan in late August. The seven-state negotiations operated separately from the U.S.-Mexico talks. Under Minute 334, the environmental work group and its efforts will continue with $5.6 million in total funding from the two governments and nongovernmental organizations.
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UNITED AIRLINES CANCELS DENVER 9/11 FLYOVER AFTER 'CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY'
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United Airlines officials canceled a planned flyover of a passenger jet escorted by a squadron of F-16s over Denver for a private 9/11 memorial after “concerns in the community,” the company said Wednesday. Denver emergency management officials published a notice about the flyover earlier this week to let residents know the event may be “highly visible from parts of Denver, noticeable by sounds, more noticeable than a typical aircraft event, (and) brief, but surprising if you aren’t aware it’s planned.” “There is no emergency. This is a planned memorial event,” city officials said in the alert. “The flyover is intended to honor and remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.” United officials said the company had planned the flyover, “a meaningful gesture to honor the memory of those lost within the pilot community but will suspend those plans due to concerns in the community and instead carry on with the other events of the day.”
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ASPEN SNOWMASS ANNOUNCES OPENING DAYS FOR WINTER 2026-27 SEASON
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Aspen Snowmass has announced its dates for the 2026-27 winter season, with Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Mountain scheduled to open Nov. 26 and Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk scheduled to open on Dec. 12. The season is scheduled to run through April 4, 2027, at Buttermilk, April 11 at Aspen Highlands and Snowmass and April 18 at Aspen Mountain, as conditions allow. For those considering a season Pass, skiers and snowboarders are able to purchase at the current pricing for Aspen Snowmass Passes through Sept. 18, with prices increasing on Sept. 19. Passes can be purchased aspensnowmass.com/visit/tickets-and-passes/season-passes. Current pricing includes savings of $400 on the Premier Pass, $230 on the Weekday Pass and the Alpine 2-Day Pass and savings of up to $100 on the new Flex Pass, depending on the number of days selected.
Available 2026/27 Passes include:
- The Premier Pass offers unlimited skiing and riding across all four mountains with no blackout dates, along with a variety of Passholder benefits
- New for 2026/27, the Flex Pass offers four to seven days of skiing and riding across all four mountains with no blackout dates — the deadline to purchase a Flex Pass is Oct. 30
- Also new for 2026/27, the Weekday Pass provides unlimited Monday-through-Friday access with no blackout dates, along with weekend access from Opening Day through Dec. 13 and weekends beginning April 5, 2027, through Closing Day
- The Alpine 2-Day Pass offers two days of skiing and riding each week, Monday through Sunday, with no blackout dates
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PITKIN COUNTY WILL TAKE OVER OPERATIONS OF MAROON BELLS SCENIC AREA
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Pitkin County will be taking over operations of the Maroon Bells Scenic Area beginning in 2027 following unanimous approval from the Board of County Commissioners Wednesday to authorize a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service and the creation of an enterprise fund for management under the permit. Pitkin County and the U.S. Forest Service have already been working together, along with Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, to provide public access to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area since 1977, and the Forest Service will maintain ownership of the area. The special use permit will expand the existing partnership to allow Pitkin County to raise fees in order to address several priorities such as providing a safe, welcoming and high-quality visitor experience; protecting habitat and natural resource health; ensuring adequate staffing and operational capacity; maintaining and improving infrastructure; and addressing significant deferred maintenance needs.
In 2025, approximately 206,000 visitors accessed the Scenic Area between May and October. The area includes Maroon Lake, parking facilities, Maroon Creek Road and numerous trailheads. In May, Forest Supervisor for the White River National Forest Brian Glaspell told commissioners that operating costs at the Maroon Bells Scenic Area run in the red — with a roughly $300,000 annual cost revenue gap. A second reading and public hearing will be held Sept. 23. This will be the second special use permit that Pitkin County holds with the U.S. Forest Service — the other is at the S Curve to help maintain the space for the ranger station there.
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TWO MORE COLORADO CAMPGROUNDS CLOSE EARLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WATER
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Two campgrounds near Basalt are shuttering for the season early after running out of water. The Little Maud and Mollie B campgrounds at the Ruedi Reservoir closed Wednesday because the nearby water well is not producing enough water, officials with the White River National Forest announced. That may come as no surprise to recent visitors, as water levels in the reservoir have been so low that the boat ramp closed on Aug. 4. These campgrounds follow several others in Colorado that could not provide water to visitors during this summer’s drought. In White River National Forest, wells have also run dry at the Peak One, Lowry, Prospector, Windy Point and Marvine campgrounds. Those areas have not closed, but campers are required to bring their own water for drinking and washing their hands.
Camping in national forests this summer has been a challenge between fire restrictions and the lack of water. However, after receiving some rain in July and August, most forests have loosened fire restrictions or done away with them altogether. That includes White River, which expands to Stage 1 fire restrictions throughout the forest on Sept. 11.
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LOCAL CASA FINDS NEW CASA, EXPANDS SERVICES
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Earlier this September, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mesa County moved into a new home base at 1048 Independent Ave., Suite A119. Mesa County’s CASA is one of many local iterations of the nationwide CASA initiative that trains volunteers to support and advocate for children in the foster care and custody court systems. According to Mesa County CASA Executive Director Melinda Leon, the larger space will facilitate smoother operations and align with the nonprofit’s growing efforts to support local children in foster care and custody court. According to Mesa County CASA Advocate Coordinator Krista Jackson, the organization has trained 31 new advocates so far this year — nearly 50 percent higher than last year. With the supplemental square footage in the new building, Leon said the local CASA will also add family visitation spaces.
To support the Mesa County CASA’s new visitation rooms by purchasing specific items from a wishlist, visit giftdrive.org/organization/507. To make a general monetary donation in support of the visitation rooms, visit bit.ly/CASAMCVisitation. Aside from setting up the visitation rooms, Leon said the organization plans to sell its old property, 2139 N. 12th St., Unit 5. Roughly 60 Mesa County children in foster care or custody court are still without a CASA, and the new building provides plenty of space to train and coordinate those yet-to-exist advocates. To learn more about the Mesa County CASA or sign up for a volunteer training, visit casamc.org.
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DURANGO DERBY RETURNS ON SATURDAY, BRINGING RALLY-STYLE MOUNTAIN BIKING TO IN-TOWN TRAILS
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The Durango Derby presented by Durango Trails returns Saturday bringing amateur, junior and professional mountain bike racers together for a full day of competition across Durango’s three primary in-town trail systems. Starting and finishing at Durango Mesa Park, the Durango Derby is a one-day, rally-style cross-country mountain bike race. Riders compete on a series of timed stages connected by untimed transfer routes through town. Unlike a traditional cross-country race, competitors can recover, refuel and ride with friends between stages before starting the next individual time trial.
The event will use trails in the following areas:
- Durango Mesa Park and Horse Gulch: Stages 1 and 4
- Overend Mountain Park or “Test Tracks”: Stage 2
- Animas Mountain & Sailing Hawks: Stage 3
Community members should expect increased bicycle traffic, course markings, volunteers and active racing throughout these trail systems on Saturday. Although all trail systems will remain open to the public, much of the race takes place on narrow singletrack, organizers ask recreational trail users to avoid marked racecourses while competition is underway and to follow all race-day signs and volunteer instructions. Spectators are encouraged to watch from designated stage start and finish areas or from the main venue at Durango Mesa Park. Online registration remains open until 7 p.m., with on-site registration also available from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday. For registration, course maps and complete race information, visit durangoderby.com.
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ALPINE SHRED DAY IN GYPSUM SEPT. 12
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Alpine Bank invites the community to a shredding event on Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to noon, at Habitat ReStore Vail Valley, 250 Lindbergh Dr., in Gypsum, to securely dispose of unwanted documents and personal information. Shred old bank statements, old medical records, canceled or blank checks, credit card statements and personal bills. Staples or paperclips do not need to be removed. There is a maximum of four boxes per household and business. All shredded paper is recycled. For more information call 970-328-1119 or visit the link below.
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL LECKENBY & LARSON AWARDS
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The Steamboat Springs History Museum, formerly known as the Tread of Pioneers Museum, is seeking nominations for its annual Leckenby Pioneer and Stanley L. Larson awards, honoring individuals who have enriched Routt County quality of life by serving in public institutions, preserving local history, inspiring youth and/or contributing to the county’s heritage. Nominees eligible for the Leckenby Pioneer Award, given out since 1980, must have lived a minimum of 30 years in the county, though they do not have to be living here currently. They must be involved with the community, responsive to community needs and serve as a representative of the community’s history. Leckenby Pioneer Award nominees must also demonstrate personal integrity and be inspirational to youth.
Anyone who has lived in Routt County and is now deceased and made a “major contribution” to the county, is eligible for the Stanley L. Larson Award, which has been given posthumously since 1982. Nominations should be emailed by Friday, Sept. 25 to museum Executive Director Candice Bannister at cbannister@steamboathistory.org. Members of the public are allowed to resubmit a nomination submitted in previous years, as the awards committee will review past nominees as well as current nominees.
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EIGHT NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS OPEN IN DILLON
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Last week, eight new pickleball courts officially opened at the Dillon Town Park. The courts, which opened to the public on Friday, Sept. 4, will “help position Dillon as a premier destination for the sport,” according to a construction update on the town’s website. “The new courts provide additional space for residents and visitors to enjoy one of the country’s fastest-growing sports while expanding outdoor recreation opportunities in the heart of Dillon,” the town’s website says. “Designed specifically for pickleball, the courts offer a high-quality place for players of all ages and skill levels to gather, compete and connect.” The courts are free to use, and players interested in using the courts should bring their own paddles. The Dillon Town Park is located at 120 Buffalo St.
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HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD ROASTS COLORADO, WORLD
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Record-breaking temperatures hit the world this summer, marking Colorado’s most sweltering season and the globe’s hottest month on record, according to meteorological data.
- Colorado averaged 69.4 degrees between June, July and August — meteorological summer — this year, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. That’s Colorado’s hottest average summer temperature on record, which dates back to 1895.
- The previous record summer high of 68.7 degrees was set in 2012, NOAA data shows. That’s a 0.7-degree difference. On the other end, Colorado’s coolest summer on record is marked by a 61-degree average in 1915.
- This summer tied with 2024 for the hottest on record internationally, and August marked the world’s hottest month ever, according to a new report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Average global temperatures reached 62.53 degrees.
- It was also the warmest summer and August on record for the contiguous United States, according to a NOAA report. The country averaged 74.4 degrees for the summer and 75.6 degrees for August.
- The United States’ previous summer record was 73.98 degrees in 1936, and the previous August record was 75.04 degrees in 1983.
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MARKET UPDATE - 09/10/2026 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 09/10/2026)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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