Colorado: Sequestration threatens more stream gages

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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A gage along Straight Creek, near Dillon, Colorado.

More cuts possible for critical stream monitoring efforts

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — It’s hard enough to make water management decisions if you have all the information at your fingertips, but the job is about to get even more difficult for resource managers.

The U.S.Geological Survey recently announce it will discontinue operation of up to 375 streamgages nationwide due to budget cuts as a result of sequestration. Additional streamgages may be affected if partners reduce their funding to support USGS streamgages.

Currently, the USGS is looking at shutting down three gages in Colorado: on Halfmoon Creek, near Malta, on the Arkansas River below John Martin Reservoir and along the Gunnison River, near Grand Junction. (more…)

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Climate: Drought conditions edge westward

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Wet, cool spring brings relief to Midwest

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The most severe areas of drought encompass parts of the central-southern plains, spreading southwest into parts of Colorado and New Mexico.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Drought woes have eased in the Midwest after a wet spring, but the far West,  California in particular, are facing continued dry conditions. California has reported its driest year to-date on record, with only 27 percent of normal precipitation for January through April. That doesn’t bode well for the state’s water supplies, although at least reservoir storage is close to normal in California.

New Mexico and Nevada are in bad shape when it comes to reservoir storage and there’s little relief in sight at the end of the snow season. Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said dry soil conditions in the southwest could contribute to higher than average temperatures this summer. (more…)

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Morning Photo: Celebrating Dillon Reservoir

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Water level to rise quickly the next few weeks

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Monsoon lightning over a dwindling Dillon Reservoir in July 2012.

FRISCO — After months of so-so snowfall, Mother Nature opened the taps in April and early May, delivering well above-average precipitation. Denver Water’s latest projections suggest that Dillon Reservoir may come close to filling this summer, a huge turnaround from earlier predictions. This body of water in the heart of Summit County is gorgeous even when levels are low. In fact, I enjoyed cruising around the shoreline last summer and fall and finding new spots that aren’t accessible when the reservoir is at an average level, but it’s still nice to know that boaters will be able to enjoy nearly the full expanse of Dillon Reservoir this summer.

This November 2012 moonrise scene was photographed from a spot that would normally be under a few feet of water.

This November 2012 moonrise scene was photographed from a spot that would normally be under a few feet of water.

(more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Morning photo, photography, Summit County Colorado, water | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper seeks statewide water plan

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Water pours down the Blue River in the high runoff of July 2011. Bob Berwyn photo.

Governor says state must figure out a way to address impending shortages

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Colorado water experts will try to figure out how to manage the state’s most precious resource in an era when all signs points to increasing shortages and the potential for growing conflicts within the state and the region over its allocation.

Under an executive order issued this week by Gov. John Hickenlooper, the Colorado Water Conservation Board will lead the effort to address the growing gap between supply and demand. Especially worrisome is the gap in the South Platte Basin, the state’s most populous and at the same time, the most productive agricultural basin.

Hickenlooper acknowledged that the recurring drought could hasten the impacts of the gap between supply and demand, noting that the past two decades have been Colorado’s warmest on record, dating back to the 1890s. Read the order here. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Drought, economy, Environment, politics, rivers, water | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado River Basin snowpack surges surges in April

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Near-normal runoff expected in some headwaters streams

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The Colorado River Basin snowpack zoomed upward in April.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Spring storms that repeatedly targeted the north-central mountains of Colorado in April help bring the snowpack to near normal in a few river basins. The May 1 snow survey showed the statewide snowpack climbing up to 83 percent of average for the date, the highest level of the year.

“Those wet storms really improved our water supplies, especially along the Front Range and Upper Colorado River basin”, said Phyllis Ann Phillips, state conservationist with the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service. Some headwaters of the Colorado and South Platte  River basins may see runoff near to slightly above average, the NRCS said in the monthly snowpack update. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, flooding, rivers, Summit County snow and weather, water | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Wildfires: Forest Service moves on upgrading air tankers

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Contract awards should enable some aircraft to come online this year

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A MAFFS-equipped Air National Guard C-130 Hercules drops fire retardant on wildfires in southern California,

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — With its old-school propeller airtanker fleet dwindling, the U.S. Forest Service announced this week that it’s taking the next step to upgrade aerial firefighting capabilities by bringing bigger and faster next generation planes online.

Specifically, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said the agency issued a notice of intent to award contracts to five companies to provide a total of seven new airtankers for wildfire suppression. (more…)

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Wildfires: Repeat of 2012 not likely in Colorado

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Wildfire season off to slowest start in past 10 years, but parts of the far West are at high risk for early season activity

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April brought above average precipitation to the northern Rockies, but much of the far West, as well as the Southern Plains, remained very dry, setting the stage for wildfire danger.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The western wildfire season has started slowly, but patchy winter snowfall means some areas will be more at-risk than other, especially California, where parts of the state reported record- or near-record low snowpack for this past winter.

In Colorado, a repeat of the early and deadly Colorado wildfire season is not likely, federal wildfire experts said in their May update, explaining that a wetter and cooler spring will help delay the onset of the season, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

But a dry winter in parts of the Colorado San Juans means some of the higher-elevation forests in the southwestern part of the state may be at higher risk of fires this spring and summer, the center’s monthly report said. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, Environment, forest fires, forests, wildfires | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

NASA study solidifies evidence that global warming will cause more droughts and more extreme rainfall

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Some parts of the world could see more intense monsoon rainfall as the world warms up. Bob Berwyn photo.

Latest modeling offers a nuanced picture of rainfall changes

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — NASA scientists say one of their latest modeling studies supports previous research suggesting that global warming will intensify rainfall and drought.

An analysis of computer simulations from 14 climate models indicates wet regions of the world, such as the equatorial Pacific Ocean and Asian monsoon regions, will see increases in heavy precipitation because of warming resulting from projected increases in carbon dioxide levels. Arid land areas outside the tropics and many regions with moderate rainfall could become drier.

“In response to carbon dioxide-induced warming, the global water cycle undergoes a gigantic competition for moisture resulting in a global pattern of increased heavy rain, decreased moderate rain, and prolonged droughts in certain regions,” said William Lau of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and lead author of the study. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, Environment, global warming | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado: No doubt, still a drought

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Annual State of the River meetings will update residents on water planning

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Receding waters of Dillon Reservoir leave big swaths of shoreline exposed.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — While spring snowfall has brought some relief to small parts of Colorado, the majority of the state is still gripped by one of the worst droughts on record. The southeastern plains and the southwest mountains in particular have experienced a string of dry years, leaving soil moisture well below normal.

Statewide reservoir storage is also near historic low levels, and even with decent spring runoff in a few river basins, water managers will be scrambling to try and refill key s like Dillon and Green Mountain reservoirs. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Summit Voice: Week in review and most-viewed stories

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Will the federal government tolerate marijuana legalization?

FRISCO — Cycling and wrangling over marijuana legalization are both popular topics in Colorado these days, which is reflected by this week’s list of most-viewed stories. Third on the list, surprisingly to me, was a somewhat wonk-oriented story about a conservation bill introduced in Congress — but maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise, since anything that involves bipartisan compromise in Washington, D.C. these days is truly newsworthy.

Two of the Summit Voice photo essays also managed to crack the top-10 list, including some sweet shots of our big spring snowstorm, and, of course, a pair of stories about the deadly Loveland Pass slide were also in the mix. Click “Read More” to see the list, as well as a roundup of headlines. (more…)

Filed under: Arctic, climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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