Drought Watch: Some Colorado streams at record low flows

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Resource managers urge conservation

Mudflats along the shore of Dillon Reservoir signify a below-average moisture year.

*Editor’s note: Local water experts are writing a weekly series to raise awareness about potential drought impacts of low stream flows and falling reservoir levels. This is the first installment.

By Troy Wineland

“Uncharted territory.” “Driest year on record!” “Seeing things that have never occurred before.”

These were the headlines and quotes in 2002, the last time we experienced conditions comparable to the current dry spell.

Uncharted … The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Green Mountain Reservoir, placed its “start of fill” call April 1, the earliest possible date and the earliest on record.

The basis? Even assuming above average precipitation this summer, which is not in the forecast, Green Mountain will fall more than 20 feet short of filling this year. This equals a 40,000-acre-foot shortfall in wet water storage.

Driest year … The entire state is experiencing drought conditions to a varying degree, from abnormally dry to extreme drought. Summit County is under severe drought and will remain there, or worsen, without substantial precipitation.

Never occurred before … My conversations with ranchers revealed a mutual consternation. Not one of them can recall an earlier or drier spring. Headgates were opened weeks early and the irrigators are struggling to capture a fraction of what they typically divert.

Why the shortfall?

Snowpack in the Blue River Basin peaked March 1 at about 85 percent of average. Since then, high winds and warmer temperatures (literally) vaporized an already deficient snowpack to 9 percent of average as of May 15.
Less snow and warmer temperatures translate to earlier and severely diminished spring runoff. Basins that reach their prime in June or July achieved an unremarkable “blip” six to 10 weeks earlier than average. At present, all the main rivers  and streams in the county are flowing less than 33 percent of average (several are less than 20 percent) with a few of the streams already breaking record low flows.
How does the Green Mountain call affect water users in the county?
If your water rights are junior to Green Mountain’s 1935 date and you have no augmentation water, you are out of priority and cannot legally divert water. If you hold water rights that are senior to Green Mountain (pre-1935) or you have augmentation water, your diversions may not exceed your decreed amount. For those who have an exempt well without augmentation water, your water use is limited to in-house use only (meaning: absolutely no outside water use).“We’re in better shape than we were in 2002, we don’t need to worry!”

This statement is short-sighted and misinformed. We live in a semi-arid environment. Year-to-year variability of Colorado’s snowpack is the norm, not the exception. Current demands on water in Colorado are barely tenable even with average precipitation. One more winter and spring like this and our worries are sure to blossom.

What should we expect this summer?

Look for this column every Monday throughout the summer. Articles will focus on drought, water conservation and the perspectives and realities of water management in Summit County.

You can also anticipate a countywide outreach effort requesting voluntary water conservation in the near future. I urge everyone to join together in establishing a new benchmark for resourcefulness, and creativity while navigating these uncharted waters.

Due to drought conditions in the Blue River watershed, water providers in Summit County are implementing increased levels of water conservation. Please go to your water provider’s website to see how these changes will affect you. For additional water conservation tips visit: www.blueriverwatershed.org.

Troy Wineland is the Division 5, District 36 (Blue River Basin) water commissioner for the Office of the State Engineer.

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Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, water Tagged: | , , , , ,

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