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Colorado - Wed. 09/16/26 |
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DENVER WATER CAN FINISH & FILL GROSS RESERVOIR, U.S. APPEALS COURT RULES
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Denver Water can finish its Gross Dam expansion and fill the controversial reservoir in western Boulder County, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, lifting an injunction by a lower court judge and confirming the dam’s permits as sound. The appeals court said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had acted responsibly in issuing construction permits for the $600 million expansion, which is largely complete and will be filled using water rights Denver holds in the Colorado River basin on the western side of the Continental Divide. While a federal district judge in Denver had issued the injunction after declaring the Corps had failed to consider less-damaging alternatives, or the fact that climate change could rob Colorado of river water, the appeals court rejected that view. “We do not think the Corps’ choice of cost methodology was arbitrary or capricious,” the appeals court ruling said.
The plaintiffs, including nonprofit Save the Colorado, argued that the Corps rejected clear evidence of climate change, but the appeals court ruled the Corps gave the research fair consideration. Gross Reservoir Dam backs up South Boulder Creek, while also taking in water through the Moffat Tunnel under the divide, from the Fraser and Williams Fork rivers in the Colorado River basin. Denver Water has said the expansion is needed to balance its water storage system currently heavily concentrated on the southern end of the metro area.
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MORMON CHURCH MAKING A MOVE IN AURORA AFTER YEARS OF HOLDING LAND
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Aurora is becoming the epicenter of new home construction in Colorado, hosting a majority of the largest master planned communities taking shape along the Front Range. And one future community in particular stands out not for its design or size, but for who is behind it. Property Reserve Inc. (PRI), a real estate investment arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is developing the Tributary community on 960 acres south of Denver International Airport and east of E-470. The church began acquiring large parcels of agricultural land during the 1970s and 1980s around what would become DIA in 1995. For decades, it farmed the land via leases until suburban growth slowly encroached and infrastructure development expanded into an area now known as the Denver Aerotropolis. That development zone around the airport covers 21,000 acres in Denver, Aurora and Adams County and is expected to become an increasingly important driver of economic growth in the region.
Besides being a key industrial and distribution hub, the zone includes several new residential communities — The Aurora Highlands, Tributary, High Point, Windler and Painted Prairie. After decades of accumulating and sitting on land, the harvest time has come. PRI has become an active master developer of large-scale residential communities in multiple states, according to the trade publication “The Real Deal.” One opportunity that is ready is Tributary, whose boundaries stretch from Interstate 70 on the north down to 6th Avenue on the south, and from Harvest Road on the west to Monaghan Road on the east. Once it is completed over the next two to three decades, Tributary should add more than 12,000 residents to Aurora’s population. Plans also include two commercial and retail areas, multiple parks and open spaces, trails, a recreation center, a school and a fire station.
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THREE CU CAMPUSES REPORT ENROLLMENT DECLINES, BOULDER'S FIRST SINCE 2020
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Three of the University of Colorado’s four campuses experienced enrollment declines over the past year, with CU Boulder losing students for the first time since 2020. The CU Board of Regents was presented with preliminary fall census data during its Sept. 10 meeting. Systemwide, the four campuses reported 926 fewer students, which accounts for 1.4 percent of their overall enrollment. The totals are lower than projections made in June and the campuses will now need to take measures to balance their budgets for the current fiscal year. The Colorado Springs campus lost the most students since last fall at 493, accounting for 4.7 percent of its student body. It was followed by CU Boulder, with 298 fewer students, and CU Denver, which lost 199 students. CU Anschutz was the sole exception, reporting a growth of 64 students or 1.4 percent.
In his presentation to the board, CU Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Chad Marturano said that nearly two-thirds of these losses were international students. Since last fall, the four campuses have lost 582 of these students or 17.7 percent of this student population. CU Boulder felt the brunt of this with 400 fewer international students. Marturano noted that, were it not for this, the campus would have reported an increase of 102 students. CU President Todd Saliman noted that the loss of international students was not unique to them and that similar trends at other U.S. campuses are likely due to changes at the federal level. The budget impact of this lost enrollment, versus the June projection, is nearly $25 million in less revenue.
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AURORA FOCUSES ON WATER SAVINGS WITH RESTRICTIONS ON DATA CENTERS, NEW TURF
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Reducing water use was front and center at the Aurora City Council meeting Monday night as the city’s elected leaders passed a pair of ordinances designed to conserve water amid a severe drought in Colorado. The council unanimously gave initial approval to a measure that would ban the use of evaporative cooling systems in the city, with one of the main targets being water-intensive data centers. Data centers have become notorious for their heavy water use — with the liquid used as a cooling agent for the servers and computers that run 24 hours a day. Evaporative cooling systems circulate evaporated water through the air and can use a lot of it, especially across large spaces. This measure is the first of a number of rules Aurora expects to enact on data centers this year, with plans in the next few months to dictate where in the city they can locate and how far they must be from homes and schools.
The council on Monday also unanimously passed an ordinance that would tighten up turf rules in the city. It would prohibit residents or businesses who are seeking to install cool-weather grass, like Kentucky bluegrass, from doing so unless they get written permission from the city manager first. Residents could still plant what is known as warm-season turf, like Tahoma 31, which uses 60 to 70 percent less water than Kentucky bluegrass.
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ROARING FORK CHURCHES UNITE FOR SEPTEMBER FOOD DRIVE
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Twelve churches from Glenwood Springs to Aspen are working in conjunction with LIFT-UP, a regional nonprofit, to collect and distribute food to local families in need. The churches will be collecting throughout September. Last year, the food drive collected over 1,800 pounds of food. With twice as many churches participating in the drive this year, LIFT-UP hopes to surpass that number. Churches in the food drive have collection bins in their entryways to gather shelf-stable, standard household size foods. Those who wish to donate should contact the specific church for details on donation schedule and location.
Donated food will be collected from participating churches and taken to LIFT-UP’s warehouse in Glenwood Springs before being distributed to the organization’s pantries based on need. LIFT-UP has pantries in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Rifle and Parachute. The participating churches are First Methodist in Glenwood Springs, St. Stephens in Glenwood Springs, The Orchard in Carbondale, Community United Methodist in Carbondale, Faith Lutheran in Carbondale, St. Mary of the Crown in Carbondale, St. Peter’s Episcopal in Basalt, Community United Methodist in Basalt, Grace Church in Basalt, St. Vincent in Basalt, Aspen Chapel in Aspen and St. Mary in Aspen.
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37TH ANNUAL COLORADO GRAND VINTAGE CAR RALLY TO VISIT CARBONDALE ON THURSDAY
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In the 37 years the Colorado Grand vintage car rally has been held, it has never visited Carbondale. That will change on Thursday when the annual charity event takes over Main Street. The annual car rally has raised over $11 million for Colorado charities in its nearly 40 years of running. “The Colorado Grand is an annual charity tour for 1960 and earlier sports and race cars of distinction,” its website states. “Every September, at the peak of the fall color season, approximately 85 vintage cars are driven in this relaxed, non-competitive event, covering 1,000 miles through the Rockies in five days.” More than 90 cars are expected to visit Carbondale on Thursday. Parking along Fourth Avenue on both sides of Main Street will be reserved for participating cars from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. LIFT-UP has been selected as the Carbondale nonprofit host and will provide refreshments for the tour participants Thursday morning at Chacos Park.
Colorado Grand generates more than $800,000 annually for small Colorado charities and Western Slope communities. The organization also provides college scholarships to graduating high school seniors in communities along the tour route. Current beneficiaries include the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation, Fight for Life, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children and small-town medical facilities. The public is invited to take in the unique cars and support a day of charity on Thursday. For more information, visit co1000.org. To volunteer on Thursday, contact Dave Reed at development@liftup.org or 970-366-8766.
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ROUTT COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY'S 'THE FAST & THE FURRIEST' 5K RUN & FUNDRAISER SET FOR SEPT. 26
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The Routt County Humane Society is inviting community members to “The Fast & the Furriest” 5K run and fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Howelsen Hill Lodge. Attendees can choose to participate in either the full 5K or the family-friendly 1-mile route and can register individually or as a team. Dogs are welcome to join their owners on the course, and costumes are strongly encouraged. Prizes will honor the fastest runner, the best dog/human costume duo, and the best team costume. The Tennis Ball Drop, where hundreds of numbered tennis balls will bounce down Howelsen Hill’s 60-meter ski jump toward a goal net, will start at 10 a.m., just 15 minutes prior to the start of the run. The balls are $5 each and every ball that lands in the net wins a prize. Supporters do not need to be present to win.
This year’s event will also feature a new “Family Fun Zone,” which will include vendors, games, prizes, face painting and a bake sale hosted by the Steamboat Springs High School National Honor Society, immediately following the race. Check-in opens at 9 a.m., with both the 5K and 1-mile run and walk routes starting at 10:15 a.m. All proceeds from registration fees, tennis ball purchases, sponsorships and prize donations will benefit RCHS programs that shelter animals, connect pets with adoptive families, provide veterinary services and help people keep the animals they love. To register, purchase tennis balls or learn more, visit RouttHumane.org/Event/5k92026.
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COLORADO SNOWSPORTS MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT A-BASIN COO & RECORD NUMBER OF SNOWBOARDERS INTO CLASS OF 2026
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This October, the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame will be inducting five Colorado snowboarders into its Class of 2026, marking the largest number of snowboarders to ever join a single Hall of Fame class. Snowboarders Trent Bush, Jeffrey Grell, Chris Pappas and Tim and Tracey Canaday will all be honored during the 2026 Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame Celebration, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek. Alan Henceroth — Arapahoe Basin Ski Area’s president and COO — will also be featured. All five snowboarders were selected to join the Class of 2026 based on their contributions to helping snowboarding grow as a sport, from developing board technology to landing new tricks or mentoring young riders. Tickets to see the induction begin at $75, and proceeds will support the Colorado Snowsports Museum. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit SnowSportsMuseum.org.
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BETTING THIS FOOTBALL SEASON? KNOW THE TAX RULES
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Football season is about to kick off. If you’ll be betting on college and NFL games this year, it’s time to brush up on the tax rules associated with gambling. Federal tax law requires taxpayers to report winnings on their tax returns, even if they don’t receive a Form W-2G for gambling winnings. Also, a major gambling rule change went into effect this year: Gamblers can deduct from their winnings only 90 percent of their losses for a tax year. This means some gamblers could owe tax even if they break even or incur a net loss. And losses generally are deductible only if you itemize deductions. For more information about the tax treatment of gambling winnings and losses, visit the IRS: https://bit.ly/4zQQ2pS
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COLORADO EDUCATORS CAN GET HOMEBUYING HELP THROUGH NEW STATE PROGRAM
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Colorado teachers and other public-school employees can now get help with down payments and closing costs through a new state program aimed at making homeownership more attainable. The Schools to Home program launched July 1 to provide assistance to educators and other public-school employees who are first-time homebuyers. So far, 85 people have used the program, according to a spokesperson for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, which manages the program. The authority estimates that with its initial funding, the program will help about 125 home purchases with an average assistance amount of $80,000 per home.
The program came out of a 2025 state law and is the latest in a raft of state and local efforts to help public school employees purchase homes in a pricey market. The goal is to alleviate teacher shortages, boost retention, and allow more educators to live in the community where they work. A number of Colorado districts already offer employees help with housing, often by subsidizing rent or by providing options like tiny homes that are less expensive than traditional homes.
- On average, Colorado teachers in district-run schools earned about $78,000 last school year and teachers in charter schools earned about $60,000 a year. In July, Colorado’s median home price was $550,000, according to the Colorado Association of Realtors.
- The Colorado Dept. of Treasury invested $10 million from the state’s Public School Permanent Fund to start Schools to Home, and will make additional investments in the coming months. The income earned from those investments will fund the program.
- To be eligible, participants must work full time in a school district, public school, charter school, innovation school, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services. They must take a homebuyer education class and meet certain credit score requirements and income limits.
- The maximum assistance public school employees can receive through Schools to Home is 25 percent of their first mortgage loan.
- In exchange for getting downpayment assistance from the state, participants will have to repay the amount they received when they sell the house. They’ll also have to pay the state a portion of the amount by which the home’s value increases. If the home’s value decreases or stays the same, the participant will only have to pay back the downpayment amount they received initially.
- To learn more about the program, visit chfainfo.com/homeownership/chfa-schools-to-home-program.
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MARKET UPDATE - 09/15/2026 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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