[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6537712,"mediaKeyId","3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d","parentId",3447466,"title","Airborne Snow Observatories map snow at watershed scale; CASM program embedded at CWCB under state law","audioSeconds",1558,"startMs",3498795,"endMs",5057155,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d&start=3498&end=5057","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d/thumbnail_3498795.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6537712/Colorado/Airborne-Snow-Observatories-map-snow-at-watershed-scale-CASM-program-embedded-at-CWCB-under-state-law","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537712-c9ad3cc2bb25b8a2aec8d2d488ce79de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495669&Signature=WNeRD0scMRKG8gQyn5p1DPYlaDKB4tOVb75gSWmchPPecUME1oN~0aE9sgPQC2PJcbiZmTedDnT9HorG3rdAbPNoQ4kwJJJwbeB9OHuso00CTiv2bU6whfGITDsEMHQpXghvUmtnN1YyTKMVBTz~mNFQ92XAZQ4l6ceM-9jX~j~EstnBQ66nIyhQlcohDMBxF9qne4H3hdyCy0LYhVfgzCO19yKbRJ1g~ye2UEoGGo6DeuKBaPguvg1zuztkt9pYLnc-Eu2ucbUacJHbiTNm86Q35v0Yc5Z6eO4wE5OmkG59kz-SmT504aeI1Rakfbw3GpT4U7-gY~hy3rJfw7wzcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author"," Colorado Water Conservation Board","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","Jeff Deems of Airborne Snow Observatories updated the Water Conditions Monitoring Committee on ASO flights and how high-resolution snow maps are being used to refine basin water-volume estimates and forecasts.

\"The mountain snowpack is our biggest reservoir,\" Jeff Deems, Airborne Snow Observatories, said while describing how ASO combines basin-scale airborne mapping with SNOTEL time series to improve volume and runoff forecasts. He described ASO’s measurements of snow-water equivalent (SWE), snow depth and albedo at high resolution across whole watersheds and the integration of those data with physically based models.

Deems said the Colorado Airborne Snow Measurement (CASM) program flew in all basins shown on the program map this year and that 33 separate funding sources supported the effort in 2025. He described differences ASO detects within basins — for example, how two watersheds can show opposite year-to-year changes at the sub-basin scale even when nearby SNOTEL stations report similar trends — and how those spatial patterns matter for diversions, rights administration and localized water availability.

Deems noted recent institutional developments: he said the successful passage this year of House Bill 11 15 implements a Water Supply Measurement and Forecasting program within the Colorado Water Conservation Board and effectively brings CASM activities into the CWCB program structure. He said ASO products and flow-forecast reports are posted on ASO and CASM sites and are distributed by email to stakeholders; he offered to add meeting participants to the forecast distribution list on request.

Technical highlights Deems provided include examples from the Blue River, Upper South Platte, Rio Grande and Dolores basins showing measured basin SWE volume, elevation distributions, and how SNOTEL averages compare with basin averages. He said ASO-constrained modeled forecasts and WARF hydro outputs have in some southern basins been higher than RFC forecasts this year and that the ASO team and partners continue to refine soil and groundwater calibration and precipitation inputs.

Ending: Deems said ASO flights and models will continue to provide frequent, low-latency updates through the remainder of the melt season and that stakeholders should expect weekly ensemble streamflow prediction updates for over 200 forecast points when new surveys are ingested.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Water Conditions Monitoring Committee Meeting - May 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Airborne Snow Observatories (ASO) presenters described high-resolution snow-water measurements, ongoing flights across Colorado basins, and the recent House Bill 11 15 action that integrates the Colorado Airborne Snow Measurement program into CWCB programming.","taxTitle","Natural Resources - Colorado Water Conservation Board, State Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Colorado","taxId",27266,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6537717,"Snowpack well below median in many basins; streamflow forecasts trending lower",1706,1818430,3525224,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d&start=1818&end=3525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d/thumbnail_1818430.jpg","/articles/6537717/Colorado/Snowpack-well-below-median-in-many-basins-streamflow-forecasts-trending-lower","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537717-43815a661baea70c843efe20c78bef30/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495669&Signature=AK07WK5f2Hg4KoPGh4Y3fEo-ATnnfUlusKx3dE1ecBaOs4pY3YzZ6LH-oMOFf1cta35YSBqfQozWjj06YchaXFSkgk5kfpWX2XL6aSwuuxwv-uoT8xST4r0IFeKG6LpPSm44Ty7wJ0Z11XPD9ctcC842jCRhlmhvzcXzsHBA~FGTQV2kmxYhCpAxtiSXIl4JNJZhO7Wly~QTubjQTDcrzTlkMuNLssRoiEMY4CErZTBIDuA90hpkSaurBVjOiIbt84HDSQ4v3RJ4Ppe-WE9pgx~IIJ43uoyf2FGzCM5940neAeIW4KfjXG~DG0Yix2tw42uwSUs2trYl01EfbEYF1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting, the NRCS presenter, Brian (surname not specified), reported that statewide mountain snowpack and runoff indicators remain below normal and that runoff has begun earlier than typical in many basins.

“In summary, snowpack as of this morning is 58% of median,” Brian said, summarizing NRCS analyses and recent changes to snow-water-equivalent estimates. He said the state’s snowpack declined from about 70% of median on April 22 to roughly 58% as of the most recent update and that the lowest basin value reported was 13% of median in the Rio Grande.

Brian reviewed basin-by-basin conditions: the southern half of the state was well below normal, with the Rio Grande and San Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan basins near or below the 10th percentile for peak snowpack. Northern basins generally held higher percentages but also showed early melt; Brian said the average date of snowpack peak across sites was about 11 days earlier than normal.

Year-to-date precipitation through the mid-May update was 87% of median, Brian said, and reservoir storage statewide was about 92% of median — close to normal overall but with lower storage in the combined San Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan region. He noted a small statewide decline in total reservoir storage over the last month and said the San Miguel/Dolores/Animas/San Juan group had experienced larger relative declines.

Brian also presented streamflow-forecast information. He said March 1 forecasts in many basins had been nearer to normal but that May 1 forecasts and recent updates have shifted drier in most basins; the NRCS forecasts for many southern basins now show most forecast scenarios below normal.

The presenter emphasized the operational implications of an earlier peak and earlier runoff: with below-normal peaks and earlier melt, streams may run lower and earlier than typical unless late-season precipitation offsets deficits. Committee members asked for clarification on timing and whether the earlier hydrograph rise would translate into a shorter runoff season.

Ending: Brian closed by repeating his key summary numbers and noting the final monthly forecasts will be set on June 1; he said updated forecasts will reflect May precipitation and runoff.","NRCS presenter reported statewide snowpack at about 58% of median with the Rio Grande basin among the lowest; reservoir storage near normal but streamflow forecasts have moved lower since March.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6537720,"Colorado spring warmer, drier than normal; Western Slope drought deepens",1829,50165,1879480,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d&start=50&end=1879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3447466-f6d8d94af7e0e4b33d3bedc84195465d/thumbnail_50165.jpg","/articles/6537720/Colorado/Colorado-spring-warmer-drier-than-normal-Western-Slope-drought-deepens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537720-28fdd79f4748da0261707a92b5c36a21/orig.mp4?Expires=1770495669&Signature=bXOG0UodNdlBPzC4qKY9DU7BkAT8vSxjDCunGA8Q0~XCFgb~sqNnveYOVbU5NzDaRIHfmf1HJJGgKw8IYbwpBUFWa~BGa5BSI2DzpkwMXaYZ18ywcLBWCYxDTU-vPLTmVXnj6IqCERz~fn4eP39hHzc1a9BoYbsX42GtR~HpP~jK78t7tsK7ZmbwRqjPvYiXaHgsl7RpwXEKIKDV3e-G-UHU1gDVpkL7qyT0yJAwkjVDqPYoMqmQW-ahF1TpZ~b7X3juZAaq0SXu5tSa-zh1jwc81Xw7QHnhtqRa~GUcN6gK9TKaaV3UEbETwy7uadIeLOFdtgfplf0bOBY1y3YRbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May meeting of the Water Conditions Monitoring Committee convened by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Climate Center analyst Ali Mazrick said the state’s spring has been broadly warmer and drier than average, and that drought conditions have worsened on the Western Slope.

“April was warmer and drier than average,” Ali Mazrick, Colorado Climate Center, told the committee. She said the first seven months of the current water year ranked among the warmest on record in many parts of the state and that, aside from a wet November storm, precipitation since then has been below average in most basins.

Mazrick told the committee that statewide precipitation for December through April was the fourth driest on record relative to the 1895–2025 baseline and that April marked the seventh consecutive drier-than-average April. She noted a geographic split in May so far: Northern Colorado has run warmer than normal while the southern part of the state has been cooler; precipitation in May has been above average in the south and below average across the northern Front Range and Western Slope.

The presentation summarized recent notable weather: an early-May snow and rain event that produced more than a foot of snow in parts of the Sangre de Cristo and foothills, and a severe wind event on May 14 that generated the second-highest number of wind reports on record for a single day in Colorado. Mazrick also showed images and data on a tornado that occurred east of Denver earlier in May.

On drought, Mazrick highlighted the latest U.S. Drought Monitor release (data through the prior Tuesday) and said the Western Slope had deteriorated over the prior month with a new area classified as D3 (extreme drought). She pointed to beginning-of-season to-date maps showing the Western Slope and parts of northeastern Colorado as the areas with the largest degradations in drought class since October.

Mazrick reviewed short-term forecasts and model uncertainty. She said the 7‑day and 8–14 day outlooks show limited, mostly scattered thunderstorm activity rather than a widespread precipitation event sufficient to reverse deficits, and she emphasized uncertainty in seasonal precipitation outlooks though models converge on an above-average summer temperature signal.

Committee members asked where federal model outlooks (Climate Prediction Center) incorporate American and European ensemble guidance; Mazrick confirmed they do. One participant raised the potential need to highlight environmental and wildfire impacts in the southern half of the state as dryness persists; committee staff said they would consider inviting guest speakers or placing the issue on a future agenda.

The Climate Center presentation concluded with a reminder that neutral ENSO conditions currently prevail, with roughly equal chances of neutral or La Niña redeveloping by fall, and that above-average summer temperatures are the more confident part of seasonal outlooks.

Ending: The committee did not take formal action on the climate or drought presentation; speakers encouraged follow-up Q&A and said the Climate Center would continue to monitor and report updates at future WCMC meetings.","At the May Water Conditions Monitoring Committee meeting, Colorado Climate Center analysts said spring was broadly warmer and drier than average, with the Western Slope entering more severe drought and parts of the state seeing late-season severe weather.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Airborne Snow Observatories map snow at watershed scale; CASM program embedded at CWCB under state law

Snowpack well below median in many basins; streamflow forecasts trending lower

Colorado spring warmer, drier than normal; Western Slope drought deepens