While it is unusual that Western Colorado would be experiencing exceptional and extreme drought (highest intensity of drought) during runoff, the present drought situation is one that started the fall of 2019.
- Late summer/early fall of 2019: Low to no precipitation had the Roaring Fork Watershed start winter in a drought.
- Winter 2019 into 2020: Average snowpack
- Spring through fall 2020: A hot May quickly melted high elevation snow. Persistent above average temperatures and below average precipitation continued to dry out soils and vegetation, and decrease stream flows.
- Winter 2020 into 2021: Below average snowpack
The Roaring Fork Watershed has remained in extreme to exceptional drought (highest intensity of drought) since August of 2020.
As water users, we all depend on the ecosystems, energy, food, and industries supported by water in this arid Western landscape.
Roaring Fork Conservancy’s is paying attention to the effects low precipitation is having on the rivers and streams of the Roaring Fork Watershed. Please check back here often to learn about our efforts, and resources and information relevant to the drought conditions experienced in Western Colorado.
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