Colorado's Drought: Snowpack at Record Low

Colorados Snowpack Reaches Record Low: Drought Worsens in the West

Colorados snowpack has hit an all-time low, with hydrologists confirming that its the least since records began in 1941. The snow peaked early and held only half the normal moisture content. This, coupled with a warm winter and early spring heat, is causing early melting, exacerbating the Wests ongoing drought.

Ranchers near the Continental Divide are feeling the impact, with dry ponds, empty ditches, and cows grazing grass too soon. Some are resorting to water hauling, akin to the drought of 2002. Cities like Salt Lake City are also taking action, implementing voluntary cuts to reduce daily use by ten percent.

Denver has approved lawn watering limits aiming for a twenty percent reduction, as theyre short seven to eight feet of snow. Negotiations between upper and lower Colorado River basin states remain stalled, with rules expiring in September and lawyers preparing for potential disputes. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is also at a mere eighteen percent of average.

While cooler, wetter weather offers a brief reprieve, ranchers stress that real recovery requires steady rain, half an inch every other day for days. Cooperation on water rights could help everyone navigate this dry spell.

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