Water Desk Editor Heather Sackett has been on a roll lately, with her three most recent stories taking you to distinct corners of the beat.
Sackett posted breaking news in recent weeks on basin-by-basin runoff forecasts, which are looking strong; a bill up for debate in the state legislature that would establish a task force to make recommendations on future water conservation programs; and her most recent, published Friday, with the latest on the process to secure stronger protections for the Crystal River, through a federal Wild & Scenic designation or some other means. Reading each will leave you better informed on the management of the resource that is, in fact, the source of all life on this planet and especially precious in our neck of the woods.
And over at our Data Dashboard, Data Editor Laurine Lassalle has built a new interactive graphic tool showing real-time streamflows at all your favorite local and regional stream gauges. This could be critical info for deciding if right now is the right time to inflate that stand-up paddle board or raft.
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– Curtis Wackerle
Editor and executive director
Community summit kicks off talks on how best to protect Crystal River
Some say Wild & Scenic is not the only way
By Heather Sackett | April 28, 2023
Although there may not be imminent, specific threats of dams or diversions on the Crystal, Wild & Scenic proponents say that doesn’t mean there won’t be threats at some point.
Drought task force to consider conservation programs
15 water leaders to provide recommendations on legislation
By Heather Sackett | April 21, 2023
Demand management has many skeptics, especially in western Colorado where some worry that temporarily compensating irrigators to use less could be a slippery slope toward “buy and dry,” stripping communities of their water.
Record March snow fueling above-average spring runoff forecasts
Ruedi awaits best chance at filling since 2019
By Heather Sackett | April 14, 2023
With warmer temperatures this week, it’s likely that much of the Western Slope has already turned the corner, hitting peak snowpack and beginning to melt out.
Data dashboard: Lake Powell rises above target elevation
Streamflows slow down, while snowpack remains constant. Air quality worsens.
By Laurine Lassalle | April 26, 2023
• Lake Powell’s elevation reached 3,525.3 feet on April 23. That’s the first time since December that the reservoir’s water levels are above target elevation.
• The Fork at Stillwater ran at 40.1 cfs or 65.7% of average on April 23. That’s down from 117.4% of average last week.
• The air quality in Aspen was “moderate” last week. The AQI index reached up to 84 for ozone on April 23.
Real-time streamflow
By Laurine Lassalle | April 26, 2023
Aspen Journalism is compiling real-time streamflow information. Users can hover on each graph to get the most current streamflow information for the selected station.
Data dashboard: Streamflows spike as spring runoff begins
Alpine snowpack began melting last week as ASE temps topped 65°F
By Laurine Lassalle | April 18, 2023
• Snowpack at Indy Pass went from 17.6 inches of snow-water equivalent on April 9 to 16.9 inches on April 16.
• The Fork at Emma ran at 412 cfs, or 101.7% of average, on April 16. That’s up from 244 cfs last week.
• Aspen recorded “moderate” air quality last week except for two days.
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