In the wake of one of the hottest, driest winters on record, communities in the Roaring Fork Valley are bracing for summer with more-severe water restrictions, fines for the worst offenders and a water conservation outreach campaign. At its regular meeting Tuesday, Aspen City Council approved staff’s recommendation of moving to a Stage 3 Water Shortage in a 4-1 vote. The city had been in Stage 2 since September. Stage 3 restricts outdoor irrigation to just two days a week: Tuesday and Friday for even addresses; Wednesday and Saturday for odd addresses; and no watering at all on Mondays, Thursdays or Sundays. 

Other water restriction news:

• The Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction, Colo.): City says drought rates for water users not necessary, reservoirs full