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.

May 15, 2025 - 

Summary: 

It’s not just your imagination, the snowpack really is disappearing right before our eyes. Following another unseasonably hot and dry week, snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed is 38% of normal for this time of year, down 16% from a week ago. Only three of nine local SNOTEL sites have meaningful SWE remaining. As a result, this will be the last snowpack report of the season as we transition to river reports next week. This rapid snowmelt is causing local stream flows to jump, including on the Crystal River at the fish hatchery where flows have doubled over the past week! Despite flow increases across the watershed, rivers are still below average for this time of year (61-76% of normal). Ruedi Reservoir boat ramp opens this Saturday, May 17, so remember to be kind to your local boat inspectors! Their efforts keep our watershed free from destructive species such as zebra and quagga mussels that can overrun lakes and reservoirs.

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