Click the link to read the release on the Northern Water website:
An important tool for the management of water in Colorado has received a funding boost from Northern Water.
On Feb. 9, the Northern Water Board authorized spending $150,000 on the Airborne Snow Observatories program for flights over the watersheds that feed the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Statewide, flights are planned across 11 river basins.
The program involves the use of a specialized airplane that flies over high-altitude watersheds and uses radar to measure the depth and density of snow across wide areas. The data acquired during flights in April and May will help water managers predict runoff and streamflow through the next few months.
This effort improves on the single-point snow observations that are part of the SNOTEL network and other data points that can have a larger amount of uncertainty based on localized conditions.
Agency partners for the work in the C-BT Project watersheds include the St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District, Denver Water, Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado River Water Conservation District. Other agencies are also looking to create a sustainable statewide program in future years.