Weekly Snowpack Report
April 2, 2026 -
Summary:
Snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed is currently 29% of normal for this time of year. Colorado had record-breaking heat the last two weeks of March resulting in record-breaking declines in snowpack. In the Roaring Fork Watershed, SWE declined by an average of 5.1” in those two weeks! In 2012, the second lowest snowpack in the SNOTEL record, SWE declined by only 2.2” over the same time span. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire Roaring Fork Watershed is now in exceptional drought (level 5 of 5 intensity). This is part of a significant expansion of drought across Colorado over the last two weeks. While this week’s storm delivered new snow at high elevations and rain in the valley’s, we will need significant moisture to improve soil moisture levels and stream flows – still, we will take whatever precipitation we can get.
Calling All River Users to Protect Waterways from New Threats
It is time for every water user to take seriously their role in being a river steward. After you fish, boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY all your gear. Every time. Yes, really, every time.
Winter Ecological Flow Releases to begin December 22
Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) has partnered with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Town of Basalt, Basalt Water Conservancy District, and Colorado Water Conservation Board to increase winter flows on the lower Fryingpan River to minimize formation and mitigate impacts of anchor ice, a supercooled ice that forms on the bottom of streams, on aquatic life.
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