The water needs of a holiday snow polo tournament in Aspen, Colorado, are being weighed against the community's drought-strained supply, which may force the event to move venues.
Tournament organizer Marc Ganzi said creating the snowy playing surface required approximately 300,000 gallons of water.
Here's what to know
Carbondale, about 30 miles away, is the backup site for the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, according to SnowBrains. Organizers had planned to mark the tournament's 10th anniversary at Rio Grande Park in December.
Aspen Valley Polo Club founder and tournament organizer Ganzi told the City Council on Nov. 2 that organizers still lacked a water source for artificial snow. Aspen remained under Stage 3 water-use limits.
Organizers have worked with Aspen Skiing Company for nine years to prepare the playing surface.
Organizers may have to wait for natural snow if they cannot secure another water source. Ganzi pointed to a 2022 Christmas storm that brought roughly three feet of snow, though he noted that too much can also make conditions difficult for the horses.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
Aspen Mayor Rachael Richards disputed the fairness of supplying water for a temporary sporting event while residents faced restrictions on lawn watering and fundraising car washes. Council members also questioned whether the city could support snowmaking for both polo and ski areas.
Beyond disrupting winter recreation, worsening drought can threaten lives and livelihoods by straining the water supplies communities need for public health, safety, and economic activity.
In Aspen, Richards raised concerns about the tournament's use of a fire hydrant connected to facilities such as City Hall and a parking garage, as well as competing demands for winter tourism.
Ganzi estimated the event's economic contribution at roughly $32 million during the week. He said more than 2,200 players, staff, participants, and visitors were associated with the tournament, with attendees typically staying for five days and spending about $2,500 each day.
What's being done?
Ganzi plans to consult his water attorney and Aspen Skiing Company about bringing water up-valley from supplies controlled by Aspen Valley Polo Club.
Richards said the city attorney needed more information before evaluating the proposal. She questioned whether the club's water rights covered irrigation or municipal use, whether a transfer would be legal, and whether a change in use required court approval.
The mayor also suggested Snowmass, which has a reservoir. Buttermilk was raised as another possible location, where the ski area might also make use of snow produced for the tournament.
According to Richards, a separate water connection for Rio Grande Park remains unresolved after the city asked organizers to help fund it. Meanwhile, the club's Carbondale facilities remain the fallback competition site.
Organizers are still preparing to hold the event at Rio Grande Park while hoping for wetter December weather.
"The drought is real, it's not going away anytime soon," Ganzi told the council.
Where can I learn more?
The debate over water for Aspen's snow polo tournament comes as drought strains supplies across Colorado.
• In La Veta, residents feared losing their water supply after a river ran dry.
• In Denver, lawn-watering violations risk fines of $500, with repeat violations potentially triggering shutoffs.
• The Colorado River Basin's snowy upper half lost nearly twice the groundwater of the desert below.
• In Colorado, drought left leaves with barely any color, according to a meteorologist checking fall foliage.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
Cool Picks
