Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/colorados-historic-snowpack-drought-threatens-lifelines-across-the-western-us/
A Record Shattered in the High Country (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Colorado – Hydrologist Maureen Gutsch pushed through mud and thinning slush in the Rocky Mountains to document a stark reality. The state’s snowpack had just registered its lowest levels since records began in 1941.[1][2] This shortfall, peaking a month ahead of schedule with only half the typical moisture, underscores deepening challenges for water supplies feeding millions in the drought-weary US West.
A Record Shattered in the High Country
Hydrologists with the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service confirmed the grim measurements near Kremmling and Walden. Statewide snow water equivalent across 115 mountain stations stood at 38% of the 1991-2020 average as of late March.[2] Regions like the Park Range, West Elk Mountains, and San Juans fared worst, barely reaching half their usual accumulation.
Warmest winter on record accelerated the melt, with March heat waves shattering temperature marks. Denver hit 87 degrees Fahrenheit, fueling rapid snow loss even before peak season. Gutsch noted the emotional toll: “We love being out here… This year, it’s kind of hard to enjoy it because it’s slightly depressing with the conditions that we’ve seen.”[1]
Ranchers Grapple with Barren Lands
In North Park valley, retired teacher and rancher Philip Anderson surveyed empty ponds and parched pastures at 8,100 feet elevation. Typically blanketed in lingering snow, the area…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-04-01 20:26:00
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