Required fields are marked *. “Given the warming temperatures, we need to be prepared as a state.”, Colorado mountain snowpack, near normal on April 1 and once a predictor of sufficient water through fall, may not be as reliable. Why is the water level dropping at eleven mile reservoir so significantly? Denver Water’s newest treatment plant rising from the ground, this video to take a journey inside the tunnel. We anticipate the reservoir will refill next spring. DENVER (CBS4) – The troubling drought situation in Colorado continues to get worse. Gov. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of July 16, 2002 where D4 affected 34.37% of Colorado land. The latest figures from the US Drought Monitor showed that the entire state of Colorado was at some level of drought. Jared Polis has activated Colorado’s traditional “drought plan” to track impacts, save water, coordinate local responses and help hard-hit farmers. The National Weather Service said Tuesday there is a chance for some isolated storms across the state over the next few days, with a better chance of precipitation once the cold front moves through Friday, and when the next front hits early next week. Weekly numbers updated Thursday morning show virtually the entire state under moderate drought … Saturday will be the eighth consecutive day with highs in the 80s in Denver. And the farther north it goes, the warmer, drier, and windier it will be in Colorado. Coverage of exceptional drought jumped 14% since last Thursday and now coves 17% of the state and includes Vail, Eagle, Rifle, Montrose, Telluride, and Kremmling. “But we still see our customers being cautious and judicious with their water use. “Our goal is to work with our federal partners to get assistance and resources to impacted communities.”. Incident types are numbered 1-5 — a type 1 incident is a large, complex wildfire affecting people and critical infrastructure, a type 5 incident is a small wildfire with few personnel involved. In Sitka,  Alaska, temperatures hit a record-tying 88 degrees on July 31, and in Richland, Washington, the temperatures on July 30 topped 113 degrees. But the increasingly hot and relatively rain-less conditions over the past six weeks are bolstering an emerging consensus among climate scientists that, beyond a temporary drought with an end, Colorado and much of the West are mired in a multi-decade shift. The U.S. Drought Monitor released Aug. 13 classified all of the state as at least “abnormally dry” and more than 90% of it in some stage of drought. Cheesman Reservoir during the 2002 drought. It also marked the 15th day in a row of 90+ degree heat, which is tied for the eighth-longest streak in the record books. It’s been a disastrous fire season for the American west. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I mean, in Alamosa, 11 out of 13 days in a row were record highs for us — just bizarre. It means shriveling crops — and dying forests primed to burn, often uncontrollably due to past suppression of wildfires. So here's what they want you to think about climate change as you cast your ballot this November. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Colorado teens can't vote for their future. “We know that temperatures in Colorado and the world will continue to increase so long as we emit vast quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every year,” said Colorado State University water center senior scientist Brad Udall,  who has researched a 13% depletion of Colorado River water and refers to “aridification” because “drought” implies an eventual return to normal. “Using only what we need now will help keep as much water as possible in the reservoirs, because we never know when we’re at the beginning of the next long-term drought.”. Water levels in the utility’s reservoirs peaked at 95% of capacity in early July and in early August reservoir storage was at 94% full, about average for this time of year, he said. The general lack of moisture in recent months is really taking a toll with extreme and exceptional drought expanding to include 20% of the state. Cameron Peak fire, the largest on record in the state, has burned 203,634 acres and destroyed more than 50 structures, Tue 20 Oct 2020 13.41 EDT Instead it will stay very warm and very dry resulting in elevated danger for new wildfires and keeping the existing fires active. ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Drought in Colorado from 2000 - 2020. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. As smoke from forest fires darken the skies and heat builds over the West Slope rivers, Denver Water customers can help by being efficient in their water use. #cowx pic.twitter.com/G0LU0X5p7K. DENVER (CBS4) – The troubling drought situation in Colorado continues to get worse. Denver and Colorado are well behind on precipitation so far this month, and this year, which has exacerbated drought conditions as well. (The reservoir filled earlier this year during the spring runoff, but water levels have dropped since then as the water was needed. And we had a mostly dry summer.”. Very informative. We have this unique underground aquifer that helps us bridge some of the gaps. We’ve got to figure out how to farm with less water, or farm less acres,” Simpson said. Display Previous Colorado Drought Monitor Maps: Colorado Drought Map for October 13, … For the year, Denver has received 6.22 inches of precipitation, compared to the normal 11.13 inches it has usually received by now. But new fires have continued to break out, including a blaze that started on Saturday about 17 miles north-west of Boulder and has destroyed at least 20 homes, and a fire that started Sunday about 20 miles north-west of Boulder and caused the evacuation of at least 145 homes. Your email address will not be published. By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. That last fire prompted the evacuation of the entire town of Ward, which has about 150 residents, county officials said. Click markers for details, use buttons to change what wildfires are shown. But as work on the flume gets underway, the reservoir has been lowered to protect the workers and worksite downstream of the dam. The country’s second largest potato producing region, is in its 18th year of drought in 2020. For first time in 8 years, 100% of Colorado is under drought or abnormally dry conditions, Snow hits Cameron Peak, East Troublesome fires Sunday, bringing critical relief, Colorado snow totals for Oct. 25-26, 2020, East Troublesome fire makes “significant” advance on east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, As Colorado wildfires burn, fears that climate change is causing “multi-level emergency” mount, Denver metro area school and government office closures for Oct. 26, 2020, Shelby Harris, Bradley Chubb air out Broncos’ “family” dysfunctions in public vs. Chiefs, As crews dig up lead-poisoned dirt, accelerated cleanup of Pueblo Superfund site cast as EPA model, In western Colorado, wary ranchers eye wolves’ arrival and fear urban voters will introduce more, Carried by wind and rain, plastics pollution is contaminating Rocky Mountain National Park and other western wildernesses, Colorado wildlife agency’s past research raises questions about mountain lion hunting levels, Colorado cement plant aims to be first in U.S. to capture carbon on a commercial scale, Decisions on public lands in Colorado, across West questioned after ruling on acting federal agency chief. A storm system will finally reach the state on Sunday but the storm seems to be trending farther north. (Watch this video to take a journey inside the tunnel with Denver Water’s dam safety engineers.). Water use by Denver Water customers in July was 11% higher than the five-year average. The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. The drought and high temperatures have led to large wildfires this month that have burned nearly 200,000 acres across the state, which have been fueled by the lack of precipitation, low relative humidity and hot temperatures even in the mountains.

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