Morning photo: Luminosity II

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

More Snake River scenes

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Ice on the Snake River glows as if from within in this early morning shot processed with an iPhone Instagram filter.

FRISCO — I just can’t get enough of the early morning mists along the Snake River, one of the only local streams that hasn’t frozen completely solid in the cold weather of recent days. I’m pretty sure the only reason there’s still some open water in the Snake is because of the “extra” water that’s flowing from out of the Robert’s Tunnel down toward Keystone Ski Area’s snowmaking intake valves, and that fluctuating flow has created a wonderland of ice terraces and frozen falls. The water also adds moisture to the air, enabling the frost to form on riverside willow shrubs, trees and grasses. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Morning photo, photography, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: Winter manifests …

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Winter’s frozen fingers drape across the land

Ice at the edge of Dillon Reservoir near Frisco, Colorado.

FRISCO —Absent a big snowfall, winter’s onset is marked by the formation of ice in the nooks and crannies of locals streams and ponds. It’s a process that’s more subtle than just waking up one morning to several feet of new snow. The ice creeps from the edges of the water, curling and crinkling with the wind or currents, slowly but sure encroaching on the open water. It’s a fun process to watch, with visible day-to-day changes, and it’s especially apparent during the relatively dry months of late fall and early winter. The past few days, I sought out spots along the shore of Dillon Reservoir and a shady Snake River canyon to watch the transformation.

A hint or early morning sun gleams into the shadows of this forested reach of the Snake River, near Keystone, Colorado. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Morning photo, photography, seasons, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: Ice and frost

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

In lieu of snow …

Morning frost and sun.

FRISCO — Went for a bit of a wander along the Snake River between Keystone and Montezuma this morning after hearing that Keystone is facing some challenges with regard to stream flows and the water it uses from the Roberts Tunnel for snowmaking. When I parked near the Blight Placer, I was greeted by an early winter wonderland of frost on the willow wetlands near the river, as well as some stunning ice formations on the rocks in the shady canyon. All in all, a satisfying photo trek. In the evening, I went hunting for more ice reflections in the shallows near Heaton Bay. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Morning photo, photography, seasons, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Global warming may be upping Snake River metals pollution

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Study reports fourfold increases in levels of zinc in the Upper Snake River

Scientists have measured huge increases in concentrations of zinc in Deer Creek, near Montezuma, Colorado. Bob Berwyn photo.

Lower water levels resulting from earlier snowmelt may leave streamside rocks exposed to weathering for longer periods of time, resulting in increasing concentrations of metals in Colorado streams like the Snake River. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Even without significant impacts from abandoned mines or other human activities, concentrations of heavy metals in the upper Snake River have increased by as much 400 percent in recent decades, with potentially serious consequences in a watershed that, in certain reaches, is already deadly to aquatic bugs and trout.

The also study illustrates the potential for comparable increases of metals in similar Western watersheds, said USGS scientist Andrew Todd, lead researcher on the project.

The observed spike in metals sent researchers on a quest to try and figure why levels of zinc and other metals are increasing so dramatically in the small headwaters streams above Montezuma, Colorado. Concentrations of zinc, for example, have increased fourfold in the past 30 years.

By default, they think global warming may be a significant factor.

“This is a really undisturbed watershed as far as anything that might change the water chemistry,” said USGS scientist Andy Manning. “It’s really important to be clear about the conclusions. What we found is that the concentrations are going up. Then we laid out some hypotheses, and the cause appears to be climate warming, in general,” Manning said. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, global warming, rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: Snake River

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Such a fine line between water and ice!

On the cusp of winter ...

SUMMIT COUNTY — After dropping the boys off at Keystone to let them work off the turkey and pumpkin pie, I headed up a short distance along Montezuma Road, pulling over in one of the dispersed camping areas to let the dogs out for some lightly supervised play time. It’s one of my favorite areas to take photos; the weird luminescence of the water comes partly from the high levels of toxic heavy metals in the stream. It’s pretty, but toxic to trout and other aquatic critters. But never mind, it’s still a great place to shoot, and the in-between-ness of the seasons heightened the drama — not to mention the very cool ice formations on some of the rocks. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Morning photo, photography, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Summit County: Slow going on abandoned mine cleanup

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Drilling, along with laser and sonar probes, planned at Pennsylvania Mine this summer

Toxic metals oozing from the abandoned Pennsylvania mine pollute the waters of Peru Creek and the Snake River far downstream. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Research at the abandoned Pennsylvania Mine, high in the Peru Creek drainage, will go deeper than ever before this year, as state experts prepare to drill underground to try and get a better handle on how water moves through the tunnels of the mine and the fissures of the surrounding mountain.

The work at the mine is expected to cost between $450,000 and $800,000, according to a recent update from the Snake River Watershed Task Force. Specific projects include laser and sonar surveys in the mine workings, as well as visual inspections with a borehole camera. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, public lands, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Morning photo: H2O

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Water Wednesday

Clinton Gulch Reservoir, between Copper Mountain and Fremont Pass, gleams in a summer sunset. The reservoir is a popular spot to fish for cutthroat trout and a hugely important bucket for Summit County ski areas, which use the water indirectly for snowmaking.

SUMMIT COUNTY — It’s water Wednesday, with Summit Voice featuring a series of stories on local and regional water issues, including the impending announcement of an agreement between Denver Water and West Slope stakeholders on divvying up flows in the highest tributaries of the Colorado River. To go along with these stories, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite water images from Summit County streams and reservoirs. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Dillon Reservoir, Environment, Morning photo, photography, seasons, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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