Trees are blanketed with fresh snow on Feb. 14, 2025, on the back side of Aspen Mountain.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The record low snowpack isn’t just impacting recreation on the mountain — it’s presenting a real risk to Aspen’s tree populations.
In mountain towns, snowpack historically buffers the ecosystem, according to Aspen City Forester Heather Gale. Repeated low snowpacks can create what Gale calls “cumulative impacts,” which is part of Aspen’s long-term forest and water monitoring and planning.
“It affects trees in a very specific way because snow functions as a slow-release water source,” she said of the low snowpack. “When winters are warmer and snowpack is limited, soils dry earlier in the year, and trees often begin the growing season with a moisture deficit. That early stress can reduce resilience during summer heat and increase vulnerability to insects and disease.”
Christopher McDonald, forester for the White River National Forest, echoed the importance of low snowpack for trees in the spring and summer.
“Soil moisture is critical for tree health,” McDonald said. “Snow in the winter helps carry the trees through spring and summer.”
He said that prolonged drought can impact the trees by weakening their ability to respond to both insects and diseases.
While Gale still says there’s potential for snowfall to improve conditions later in the winter, it’s not just the trees at risk — snowpack also historically buffers infrastructure through a supported ecosystem.
“Trees are also part of a much broader water story,” she said. “Healthy tree canopy helps cool neighborhoods, slow stormwater runoff, and reduce overall water demand by shading landscapes and buildings.”
Because of this, she emphasized that supporting tree health is an important way Roaring Fork Valley communities, and communities across Colorado, can adapt to drier conditions. This means using water thoughtfully, maintaining healthy soils, and “prioritizing practices that support deep, resilient root systems.”
She identified the most effective strategies as planting drought-tolerant species and prioritizing water efficiency.
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