Snowpack, Undone

While the Front Range – Boulder, Denver, etc. – had a fairly dry winter, the high country received exceptional amounts of snow. Cold temperatures and late season snow resulted in an end-of-season snowpack the likes of which have not been seen in decades. Only now are the last of the passes being cleared. While this picture was taken a few weeks ago, Trail Ridge Road (running through the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park) only recently opened for the summer. (Photo courtesy of Daily Camera)

The result of this year’s snows, at least during the winter months, was great skiing and winter sport opportunities. Now, however, it's a different story: threatened flooding throughout the spring. Here we have Boulder Creek this evening: well above regular levels, but not yet at flood stage. Communities around the state and through the west are girding themselves for well above normal flood conditions.

While this year’s flooding, or potential flooding, may be a result of high snowpack – these are the conditions the mountain west can expect under conditions of climate change. Regardless of the amount of snowfall through the winter itself, warmer temperatures in the spring will mean earlier melts. This will result in increased floods in the spring, and less water for downstream communities in the late summer. The costs incurred – from flood damage and subsequent water scarcity – could be considerable. At the very least, dam and reservoir operators will have to change how they do business – again, more costs.

 How will we as a community – local, regional, and national – respond to these changes? Will we simply move forward, reactive and unthinking, writing cheques as we go? Or do we make the individual and collective decisions and changes about how we’ll move ahead?