Snowpack/streamflow/storage/whitewater news
February 20, 2011
From Steamboat Today (Tom Ross):
It almost sounds sacrilegious to talk about spring runoff as Steamboat bears down on what could be its fourth 400-inch winter in six seasons. With seven weeks to go in ski season 2010-11, Steamboat already has surpassed 310 inches at mid-mountain, putting the tally ahead of the recorded-history average of 308 annual inches…
Risa Shimoda, of USA Freestyle Kayaking, has announced that for the first time, Steamboat’s Paddling Life Invitational freestyle competition will be added to the premier freestyle kayaking point series in North America. The Steamboat event on May 30 will come right after the Pro Rodeo in Buena Vista on May 27 and 28, ensuring the best in the sport will be in the Steamboat neighborhood.
If you like a dash of controversy with your water on the rocks, we’ve just learned that the Grand County Commissioners have applied for water rights on the Colorado River, both in Hot Sulphur Springs and below Gore Canyon, to ensure adequate flows for all forms of recreation. The recreational in-channel diversion rights would be attached to whitewater parks in Hot Sulphur and below the canyon near Pumphouse, Nathan Fey, of American Whitewater, reports. Fey said Grand County is seeking to protect 900 cubic feet per second of flow at Hot Sulphur and 2,500 cubic feet per second below Gore Canyon.
From the La Junta Tribune-Democrat (Bette McFarren):
…all reservoirs in the state are up with the exception of John Martin and Trinidad. The realtime streamflow in Fountain Creek is normal. Flow on the Arkansas River below Timpas and below John Martin Reservoir is lower than normal. Above Pueblo, there is 91 percent of the water present last year. The snow pack in the upper basin is at 80 to 90 percent of peak, with possible early spillage…
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts drought conditions in the lower Arkansas basin through March and April.
