Residents of the East Coast may be enjoying warmer weather this week, but a crisis is unfolding in the West. In Colorado, where this reporter lives and grew up, this winter has been exceptionally warm and dry. Last year concluded with the warmest December on record, 8.9 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 average, and the warmest since late 19th-century record-keeping began. Over the recent weekend, families in Colorado Springs walked their dogs in T-shirts due to temperatures in the mid-60s, while Denver reached a record high of 68 degrees on February 15.
A Catastrophic Snowpack
The warm temperatures are only part of the problem. This year’s snowpack is among the lowest ever measured, threatening to leave reservoirs and farms short of water. While snow is expected this week, the year is still on track to be one of the worst for water availability in modern history. Colorado is already experiencing the worst drought in 1,200 years, according to Senator John Hickenlooper.
Hickenlooper, a former governor and mayor of Denver, described the situation as dire, stating, “The snowpack is pretty much as large as all of our reservoirs combined. That’s why winters like this one are so terrifying.” A lack of snow threatens economic disaster, impacting ski resorts currently, and potentially leading to dwindling rivers and failed crops in the coming months.
Widespread Concern
Colorado State Climatologist Russ Schumacher stated, “It’s as subpar as you think it is.” The state is experiencing a snow drought on top of a decades-long drought. The snow water equivalent in the Colorado River basin was tied for the lowest ever recorded last week, according to Brad Udall, a senior water scientist at Colorado State University. This metric measures the amount of water the snowpack will yield when it melts.
A weak La Niña pattern is partly to blame, pushing moisture away from the mountains. Yet, climatologists caution that even with potential snowfall this week, returning to an average snowpack seems “almost impossible” at this stage.
The Colorado River Compact
The situation is further complicated by ongoing negotiations regarding the Colorado River Compact, a century-old agreement governing water distribution among seven states, 30 tribal nations, and Mexico. The states missed a key deadline on February 14, leading the Bureau of Reclamation to prepare to impose its own plan—a plan that states are unlikely to support. Some Colorado residents are concerned that the Trump administration may retaliate against the state by favoring Arizona in water allocations, citing a recent veto of funding for a water pipeline project in southeastern Colorado.
The consequences of reduced water availability will extend beyond immediate concerns, impacting agriculture, recreation, and mountain ecosystems. For now, residents are bracing for an early fire season and anxiously monitoring the snow forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is snow water equivalent?
Snow water equivalent is a metric used to estimate how much water will flow into rivers when the snow melts. It essentially measures the amount of water contained within the snowpack.
What is the current status of Lake Powell and Lake Mead?
Both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, are critically low. Lake Powell is about 25 percent full, and Lake Mead is at about 34 percent.
What is the significance of the Colorado River Compact?
The Colorado River Compact is a more than century-old agreement that controls how the Colorado River flows into and out of Lakes Powell and Mead. Negotiations to update the compact have stalled, and the Bureau of Reclamation is preparing to impose its own plan.
As conditions continue to evolve, what steps will be necessary to mitigate the long-term impacts of this water crisis on communities and ecosystems throughout the West?
