As temperatures rise in the spring, so do river levels. That’s thanks to this year’s healthy snowpack, which is beginning to thaw. Spring runoff is an essential part of the Roaring Fork Watershed.
Right now, snowpack sits at 141 percent of average for this time of year. Rick Lofaro from the Roaring Fork Conservancy says that’s great news for our rivers.
"The reality is we live in a snowmelt-driven system," he said.
Runoff can cause rivers to flow over their banks, which is a good thing. Many species, notably the narrowleaf cottonwood, depend on overflow to saturate their soil.
Ideally, gradual warming in the mountains would release a steady stream of water into rivers and streams, too much heat can make snow melt too fast. That could cause flooding in low-lying areas near rivers like the Roaring Fork or Frying Pan.
Flows typically peak from May to early June.