After months of persistent dry conditions, Southwest Colorado saw one of the most dramatic hydrologic reversals in recent memory. In early October, much of the San Juan and Animas River Basins remained in moderate to severe drought, with depleted soil moisture and low late-season streamflow. Then, the remnants of Tropical Storm Priscilla swept across the region, delivering several inches of rain in just a few days. The San Juan River and tributaries surged beyond channel capacity, forcing evacuations near Durango and refilling storage reservoirs which had been at critically low levels only weeks earlier. This fall season has brought flooding to Southern California and Arizona, and follows a major flood event in July in Central Texas. While these rain events have eased drought conditions, they also caused flood damage and sediment inflows — illustrating one of the challenges posed by increasing climatic variability and “weather whiplash”.
At WestWater Research we work with water managers to craft water supply plans that consider hydrologic extremes and provide resilient decision-making for an uncertain climate conditions. Our work with municipalities and water districts considers the use of storage to balance out the hydrologic variability that is a centerpiece of life in the West.
“The Water Current” is a monthly news digest that provides brief summaries of interesting and timely news stories related to water economics and water markets in the Western United States. Our team tracks new developments in water policy, management, and conflicts, sharing articles relevant to their work and services.