Western US Water Crisis: Low Snowpack Fuels Drought & Economic Fears

Colorado Faces Historic Water Crisis as Warm Winter Yields Record-Low Snowpack Colorado Springs, CO – Residents across Colorado are experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures this February, with some areas reaching record highs. But beneath the mild weather lies a deepening crisis: the state is facing one of the most severe snowpack deficits in modern history, threatening water supplies and economic stability throughout the region. Over the weekend, Denver recorded a high of 68 degrees on February 15, a new record for the date. In Colorado Springs, temperatures climbed into the mid-60s, prompting families to enjoy outdoor activities in t-shirts and shorts. However, these warm conditions are exacerbating a troubling trend. Last December was the warmest on record for the state, 8.9 degrees above the average from 1991 to 2020, and the warmest since recordkeeping began in the late 19th century. The lack of sustained cold and snowfall has resulted in a critically low snowpack, the primary source of water for the Colorado River and its tributaries. As of this week, the snow water equivalent – a measure of the amount of water contained within the snowpack – is at its lowest level since at least 1987, when comprehensive measurements began. Some older records, dating back to the Dust Bowl era, indicate this is the third-worst water year ever measured in Colorado. While the current snowpack is around 58 percent of the median some areas are experiencing even lower levels. “It’s as subpar as you feel it is,” said Russ Schumacher, the Colorado state climatologist. A weak La Niña pattern is contributing to the problem, pushing a high-pressure system – dubbed a “heartbreak ridge” – further east than usual, diverting moisture away from the mountains. This lack of snow is creating a negative feedback loop, causing the mountains to warm further and accelerating snowmelt. The implications of a diminished snowpack are far-reaching. Colorado’s junior senator, John Hickenlooper, emphasized the critical role of snowpack, stating in an email that “the snowpack is pretty much as large as all of our reservoirs combined.” He warned that winters like this one are “terrifying” due to the potential for economic disaster. Ski resorts are already feeling the financial strain of limited snowfall. As the spring approaches, rivers that typically offer robust whitewater rapids and fishing opportunities are expected to dwindle to a trickle. Farmers face the prospect of reduced crop yields, particularly in the state’s vital peach orchards. Hydrologists and fire scientists are bracing for a potentially severe summer, anticipating increased wildfire risk due to dry conditions. The crisis is unfolding as Colorado and other basin states attempt to renegotiate the Colorado River Compact, a century-ancient agreement governing the allocation of water resources. The states missed a crucial deadline on February 14, prompting the Bureau of Reclamation to prepare its own plan, a move likely to be met with resistance from all parties involved. Concerns are also rising that the federal government might favor states that supported the previous administration in water allocation decisions. A recent example of this concern was the veto of funding for a water pipeline in southeastern Colorado by the former president in December. Brad Udall, a senior water scientist at Colorado State University, noted that the snowpack in the Colorado River basin is currently tied for the lowest ever recorded. This snowpack feeds the Colorado, Rio Grande, and Arkansas rivers, and ultimately contributes to the water levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the United States. Both reservoirs are currently at critically low levels – Powell is approximately 25 percent full, and Mead is at 34 percent. If Powell’s water level drops another 40 feet this year, hydroelectric power generation at Glen Canyon Dam could be jeopardized, and the possibility of “dead pool” – a level too low to release water downstream – looms. Water is largely diverted from the Colorado River to thousands of slight locations, rather than stored in large reservoirs. Udall warned that “this year, there just isn’t going to be any water in these rivers. Or there will be water, but instead of 12 weeks or 16 weeks of water, it will be four weeks of water.” Under western water law, these rivers could be completely dried up. Residents are already preparing for the consequences of the water shortage, tending to trees budding prematurely and updating emergency preparedness checklists in anticipation of red-flag fire warnings. The snow forecast is being monitored daily, but climatologists caution that it may be “almost impossible” to recover to an average snowpack at this stage.