As a result of delayed snowmelt at the Schofield Pass, Independence Pass, and Ivanhoe SNOTEL sites, snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed is 143% of normal for this time of year. While the lower elevation snowpack has all but melted due to an unseasonably warm April, high elevation snowpack has been bolstered by the wetter and cooler start to May. That brief reprieve may be over as summer-like weather has returned to the watershed recently, causing stream flows to rise over the past couple days. However, local rivers are still flowing below average for this time of year (44-67% of normal). Ruedi Reservoir releases increased 35 cfs earlier this week to maximize City of Aspen power generation, bringing flows on the Lower Fryingpan to 239 cfs.

Stream flow, diversion and reservoir data acquired from U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Roaring Fork Watershed stream gages: www.roaringfork.org/your-watershed/river-flow/

Colorado drought conditions: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu