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Transmountain diversion change increases flood danger in Aspen, Basalt

roaringfork.org

There’s less water from the Roaring Fork River being diverted to the East Slope this spring and it’s increasing flood danger. Over the weekend, law enforcement in Aspen and Basalt monitored high flows. Wetter-than-normal conditions on the East Slope temporarily stopped diversions through the Twin Lakes tunnel. They’ll start up again later this month. Bill Linn is Assistant Police Chief in Aspen.

"They just don’t have enough capacity. They don’t need a lot of water over there, so on Tuesday they turned off the valve. That’s why the rivers are higher now than they were even a week ago."

The Roaring Fork through Aspen is running more than double the typical flow. So far, no structures are threatened by flooding. Riverbanks have only overflowed at the North Star Nature Preserve east of town and other undeveloped property. A Mud and Flood task force is readying sandbags and shovels for peak flow, expected mid-month.