Snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed is 116% of normal for this time of year. According to the Colorado Dust-on-Snow Program, the fourth dust event of the year occurred April 5-7, as high winds kicked up dust from the Four Corners region. Dust absorbs more sunlight and therefore acts like a heated blanket on top of the snowpack, leading to quicker melting. Exposed dust layers have been observed at high elevations in the Roaring Fork Watershed which will increase snowmelt. While most rivers across the watershed are currently flowing below average for this time of year, without a new layer of fresh snow to cover the dust-on-snow, flows are expected to increase with the increased snowmelt.

Stream flow, diversion and reservoir data acquired from U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Roaring Fork Watershed stream gages: www.roaringfork.org/your-watershed/river-flow/

Colorado drought conditions: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu