Farmers and ranchers in the Roaring Fork Valley are coping with the effects of prolonged drought. Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) recognizes the value and complexities of local agriculture. To this end, RFC is partnering with several producers, Lotic Hydrological consulting, and Pitkin County Open Space to explore opportunities of enhancing the resilience of ranching operations in the Roaring Fork Valley in times of water shortage. The project team is interested in identifying means for mitigating against the impacts of drought on productivity in mid- to high-elevation grass pastures and hay fields—the dominant agricultural land use in the Roaring Fork Valley. The study will work to identify field-scale treatments that can be used to minimize (or eliminate) reductions in crop yields and forage quality that are expected in times of limited water supply.

April 24, 2025 - 

Summary: 

Snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed is currently 67% of normal for this time of year. As a reminder, an “average” snowpack will register at 100% of normal, so the current snowpack is well-below average. As snowpack melts, the water infiltrates into the ground to be used by vegetation and recharge groundwater, ultimately ending up in streams and rivers. Alternatively, it can sublimate which is when snow turns directly into water vapor skipping the liquid phase entirely. Windy conditions, like we have had over the last few weeks, exacerbates sublimation and dries out vegetation and soils. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Friday and a Fire Weather Watch for Saturday. Local rivers decreased over the last week and are currently flowing 54-98% of normal for this time of year.

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