Weekly Snowpack Report
March 19, 2026 -
Summary:
Snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed continues to be historically low, and is 60% of normal for this time of year. Unseasonably warm weather over the past week has caused SWE to decrease at most local SNOTEL sites. Notably, SWE at McClure Pass decreased by 2.1”, which is nearly a quarter of the total SWE accumulated at the site this winter. 7 of 9 local SNOTEL sites are currently measuring their lowest mid-March snowpack on record. Conditions are similar throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin (everything upstream of Lake Powell) as Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah all experienced their warmest winter season on record. Due to these record-breaking temperatures and sparse precipitation, snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin is historically low. Currently, inflows into Lake Powell are forecasted to be 38% of normal this upcoming summer.
Calling All River Users to Protect Waterways from New Threats
It is time for every water user to take seriously their role in being a river steward. After you fish, boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY all your gear. Every time. Yes, really, every time.
Winter Ecological Flow Releases to begin December 22
Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) has partnered with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Town of Basalt, Basalt Water Conservancy District, and Colorado Water Conservation Board to increase winter flows on the lower Fryingpan River to minimize formation and mitigate impacts of anchor ice, a supercooled ice that forms on the bottom of streams, on aquatic life.
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