WINTER PARK — Members of the Colorado Drought Task Force want Gov. Jared Polis to issue an emergency proclamation to unlock more help, potentially from state coffers, in face of worrisome drought conditions.
After a historically bad winter that ended a month early, Colorado is already feeling the impacts — whether that’s financial strain, tough business decisions or an overstressed environment. As part of the state’s response, the task force recommended Monday moving into the highest level, phase three, of the state’s drought response plan. The move could allow the state to tap more resources or seek a presidential declaration.
“Moving to phase three and declaring a drought emergency is something we should do as soon as possible,” said Nate Pearson, assistant director for water policy for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “I would encourage the group to think beyond the bare minimum required in phase three and think through what recommendations we’d be confident could have positive impacts now.”
Polis activated the task force, a group of water experts and officials from water-related state agencies, and phase two of the state’s drought response plan March 16. The task force was previously launched in April 2002, May 2011, May 2018 and June 2020.
The officials gathered for their third meeting in Winter Park to hear updates about drought conditions and impacts on fisheries, water providers and wildfire risk.
After a record-low snowpack this winter, the snowpack is almost gone, said Russ Schumacher, Colorado state climatologist, in his update to the group. He tracked the snowmelt into the state’s rivers, which would normally peak in early June. This year, some rivers have already peaked and flows are extremely low in nearly all basins, he said.
The flows in the Arkansas River as it passes through Salida in southern Colorado were below 2002 levels, another extremely poor water year. The Rio Grande River near Del Norte peaked early but stayed above 2002 levels. The White River at Meeker in northeastern Colorado is in “uncharted territory” and was lower than any previous year in early May, Schumacher said.
The snowmelt and spring storms have not rejuvenated Colorado’s parched landscapes. About 94% of the state reported some level of drought as of May 26, with just under 10% experiencing exceptional drought, the most severe category tracked by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The state has seen some improvements in its drought conditions over the past month, especially in northern Colorado and parts of the Eastern Plains. Other regions, like the San Luis Valley, reported more severe drought after a dry May, Schumacher said.
The warm and dry conditions could pose a deadly threat to fish as water temperatures rise, water quality worsens, and fish struggle to move between deep pools in shallow streams, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials.
Two state parks, Cherry Creek and Barr Lake, experienced toxic algae blooms in May, which happen when aquatic conditions are knocked out of balance because of factors like excess nutrients or warmer temperatures, CPW officials said. Neither lake reported a current bloom as of June 1, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Farmers and ranchers are taking direct blows from the hot and dry conditions. They’re facing tough decisions about whether to sell off cattle or haul water over long distances when nearby streams don’t provide. In some cases, the dry weather and sudden storms have led to canal failures or ditch blowouts.
The stress levels are ramping up, both for the environment and the people who depend on it for their livelihoods, Colorado Department of Agriculture officials said. They urged people to buy directly from Colorado farmers and ranchers.
“Colorado is still open for business,” Robert Sakata, senior advisor to the state commissioner of agriculture, told the group. “We really want people to support local agriculture.”