We thank our friends and Business Member at Bristlecone Mountain Sports for supporting our May Snowpack & River Reports.

May 12, 2022 at 10:00am

Summary: 

It’s not just your imagination, the snowpack really is disappearing right before our eyes! Roaring Fork Watershed snowpack is now 60% of normal, down from 93% just one short week ago. Snow water equivalent (SWE) decreased 4.1-8.8 inches at SNOTEL sites within the Roaring Fork Watershed, with four of seven sites now reporting 0 inches of SWE. The high winds that are disturbing your sleep, recreation and allergies are likely to blame for the rapid snowmelt, along with rising temperatures. In turn, local rivers are flowing 121-206% of normal for this time of the year - exciting for recreation, but also concerning, as early peak flows sometimes lead to low late season flows. In addition, the Roaring Fork Watershed is home to the 3rd and 5th largest transbasin diversion tunnels in the state, which move water from the West Slope to the Front Range for municipal, industrial and agricultural uses. The Boustead Tunnel, located on the headwaters of the Fryingpan River, is diverting 494 cfs (408% of normal for this time of the year). The Twin Lakes Tunnel, located on the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River, is currently diverting 262 cfs (297% of normal for this time of year).