Drought watch: Straight Creek flows still above 2002 levels

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Water monitoring on Straight Creek. Photo by Bob Berwyn.

Low flows could trigger watering restrictions

By Trevor Giles, Dillon utilities superintendent

The main source of drinking water for the Town of Dillon is Straight Creek. Straight Creek begins at the top of the Continental Divide above the Eisenhower Johnson Tunnels, and flows down along I-70 into Dillon Valley. Projects to protect the water quality in Straight Creek include fire mitigation, sediment collection and barriers. Rapid response to hazardous materials spills is also critically important for Dillon’s water supply.

The Town of Dillon shares Straight Creek and the diversion with Dillon Valley Metropolitan District.  The flows in Straight Creek are above levels that we saw in 2002 but they are still 73 percent below normal. Based on historical records we feel that trend will continue into the fall.  The Town of Dillon currently does not have any raw water storage that is connected to the town such as a lake or reservoir. (more…)

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

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. (more…)

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

Global warming: USGS studies try to localize climate modeling data to predict impacts to specific river basins

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Response often depends on local conditions

One of the biggest puzzles for resource managers is how global warming will affect stream flows and water supplies.

July 2011 high water on the Blue River in Breckenridge was followed by one of the earliest runoff seasons on record in 2012. Many climate models suggest that stream flows will be less consistent and tend toward extremes.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — While most climate change models are in agreement that warmer temperatures will have a significant long-term effect on stream flows and water supplies, the modeling is just now starting to get to level of individual rivers.

In one of the most recent studies, the U.S. Geological Survey tried to forecast changes in 14 river basins across the country, including Colorado’s Yampa River — one of the few drainages where there is still more supply than demand. (more…)

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

Colorado: Drought relief for streams and fish?

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Colorado Water Trust to fund short-term water leases to protect stream reaches that could take a hit from low flows, warm temperatures this summer

Colorado nonprofit looks to facilitate water leasing program. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A record-low spring snowpack and continued dry and warm weather doesn’t bode well for Colorado’s rivers and streams this summer, but a few critical reaches could get a boost thanks to the nonprofit Colorado Water Trust.

After the 2002 drought, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Division of Wildlife created a list of critical stream segments where low flows and warm temperatures posed a potential threat to aquatic ecosystems.

Based in part on that list, the water trust proposes to facilitate short-term leases of water from agricultural users to keep flows at levels deemed adequate to ensure stream health.

“We are testing totally new waters here,” said Colorado Water Trust director Amy Beatie. “We have our own cash we’re willing to put into the program and our goal is to raise $500,000,” she said, explaining that funding comes exclusively from private sources, with no state money going toward the program. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Drought, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, water | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Some ecosystems show resilience in face of global warming

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

New research suggests some stream flows may not be as hard hit by global warming as previously anticipated, at least in terms of volume.

Study suggests global warming may have less of an impact on runoff and stream flows in drier areas than previously believed

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Some headwaters ecosystems may be more resilient to climate change than previously believed, according to Oregon State University scientists who meticulously studied temperature and runoff data at a network of 26 long-term ecological research stations around the country.

After analyzing records in 35  headwater basins in the United States and Canada they found that the impact of warmer air temperatures on streamflow rates was less than expected in many locations.

Air temperatures increased significantly at 17 of the 19 sites that had 20- to 60-year climate records, but streamflow changes correlated with temperature changes in only seven of those study sites. In fact, water flow decreased only at sites with winter snow and ice. There was less impact in warmer, more arid ecosystems, said OSU geoscientist Julia Jones, lead author of the study recently published in the journal BioScience. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, forests, global warming, rivers | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Climate: South Platte flows could drop by 40 percent

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

New Colorado study examines potential impacts to water supplies

New climate report highlights dire impacts to Colorado's river flows.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —A new study by the Water Research Foundation projects potential climate change impacts to Front Range water supplies for the next few decades, showing that the total amount of water in several key river basins could decline significantly if temperatures continue to rise.

The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization  highlighted the report in its March newsletter, saying the starkest conclusion of the study is how much river flows could diminish in a hot and dry future — a future that is looking more and more likely as emissions of heat-trapping gases increase. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, global warming, rivers, water | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Denver Water watching stream flows closely

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Bob Berwyn
High water levels in Summit County, Colorado.

Snowmelt and rain in the forecast could still lead to some above-average stream flows in Summit County.

A surge of snowmelt and forecast rainstorms could still lead to some high runoff levels in local streams

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Although local streamflows have dropped slightly from record-high levels earlier in the week, Denver Water is still keeping a close watch on Dillon Reservoir water levels with an eye toward trying to prevent high water in Silverthorne-area neighborhoods susceptible to flooding.

In a press release, Denver Water again said that inflows to the reservoir were significantly higher than  expected the past few days. The standard source for predicting flows called for a maximum inflow of about 1.300 cubic feet per second, but the actual flows peaked at slightly above 2,000 cfs, said Bob Steger, manager of raw water resources. (more…)

Filed under: Dillon Reservoir, rivers, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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