Eagle River Coalition: From snow to flow
Here at the Eagle River Coalition, we care deeply about snowpack — not just because we, like so many in this community, are avid skiers and winter recreation enthusiasts but also because we understand what this snow will become in just a few short months. By April, the snow will begin to melt and run off into the Eagle River and its tributaries, filling local waterways with what was once the snow we skied, snowshoed and played on.
While we love snow for these winter activities, its foundational role extends well into the summer and even into the next water year — but in a different form: water. While much of the water found in the local rivers is runoff from snowpack, a smaller but still important amount is from groundwater. What is groundwater, and why does it matter?
Water penetrates the soil and enters underground water reservoirs, becoming groundwater through a process called “groundwater recharge.” However, before the water reaches these groundwater reservoirs, it first replenishes soil moisture.
Let’s back up. As you may understand, if you’ve ever been on a hike in the rain, soil becomes moist when snow melts or rain falls. A useful analogy is to think of soil as a sponge. A slightly damp sponge and a completely dry sponge will absorb water differently — if you pour the same amount of water on both, the dry sponge will soak up more. The same principle applies to soil.
Soil moisture is crucial to understanding drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin, which includes the Eagle River Watershed. When there is less precipitation and higher temperatures year after year, soil moisture levels decline or dry out.
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Careful monitoring of soil moisture data can help governments, agencies and water providers plan and make decisions about water use, policy, development and more. All of this is especially important as the Colorado River Basin continues to experience prolonged drought, since soil moisture is a factor in determining future water supply, agricultural productivity, wildfire risk and drought.
Let’s connect soil moisture and groundwater. Think of it this way — even if we enjoy a year or two of average or above average snowpack, much of that snow will melt and be absorbed by dry soil before it reaches streams and rivers. Some, however, will inevitably go through groundwater recharge and eventually enter local streams, but this amount depends on soil quality, geology, vegetation and other factors.
A good example of this is in 2021, when the Colorado River Basin had about 80% of average snowpack, but only 30% of that made its way into rivers and reservoirs. With low soil moisture levels and little groundwater, local streamflows decrease, putting our communities, wildlife, economy, lifestyle and landscapes at risk.
That leads us to one of the major concerns we face here in Eagle County and beyond: wildfire risk. As we explained above, lower soil moisture levels indicate an increased likelihood of severe wildfires. This risk is especially high in areas without strong riparian zones to help buffer against wildfire spread and severity.
Data-driven monitoring of snowpack and soil moisture is vital, because leaders in local governments and agencies make decisions based on data that has been collected and recommendations made by experts processing that data. For local leaders to be able to make informed decisions about risk management planning, data, and therefore, funding that supports data, is required.
That brings us to what actions you can take. First, you can express your support for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Without the data collection and modeling provided by the NRCS, it would be extremely difficult to predict current and future water supply conditions, as well as trends around drought and wildfire threats.
For more hands-on efforts, restoring historical floodplains and riparian areas and protecting wetlands can help slow the movement of water, allowing it to replenish groundwater reserves and increase soil moisture. The Eagle River Coalition is working closely with local partners to restore floodplains and riparian areas while educating the community about the importance of wetlands, and upcoming opportunities are shared regularly in our monthly newsletters.
To support our mission, sign up for monthly newsletters, or learn more, please visit eagleriverco.org.
Rose Sandell is the community engagement manager for Eagle River Coalition. The Eagle River Coalition has a mission to advocate for the health of the Upper Colorado and Eagle River basins through research, education and projects. Contact the Watershed Council at 970-827-5406 or visit EagleRiverCO.org.
