Click the link to read the article on the Sky-Hi News website (Meg Soyars Van Hauen). Here’s an excerpt:
May 16, 2025
Grand County is home to numerous lakes, reservoirs and rivers. Currently, the county is sitting better than other areas in Colorado in terms of drought. But as a dry, hot summer is forecast, the Grand County Drought Preparedness Committee declared a drought watch. This is the lowest level of the four drought stages. According to the committee, the county has experienced its two driest decades in history. The drought committee includes stakeholders across the county who look at environmental indicators to determine droughts levels and give recommendations for water conservation…In a news release, the committee states the drought watch is spurred by significant snowmelt that’s occurred since early April. The Upper Colorado River Basin’s snowpack levels were at 67% of median on May 8, the release states…
Foulk said that the preparedness committee will reconvene on May 27 to review the county’s drought indicators. Based on precipitation levels and other factors, the county could move up to Stage 1 drought warning, or go back down from the current drought watch. For each drought stage, the preparedness committee recommends specific water reduction actions. Regardless of the current level of drought, residents are encouraged to conserve water as normal practice. Small steps in community members’ homes and yards can have big impact on the waters that flow through Grand County.