<\/p>\n
In fact, it\u2019s really not looking good for the entire Colorado River Basin. Earlier this month NOAA\u2019s Colorado Basin River Forecast Center<\/a> released its first forecast for 2018, predicting that spring runoff into Lake Powell would only be 54% of average. According to Jeff Lukas<\/a>, who studies long-term climate shifts at the Western Water Assessment, based at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Colorado\u2019s snowpack is \u201cwell below normal, halfway through the snow accumulation season. Essentially, time is running out to make up that deficit.\u201d<\/p>\n Is Colorado ready?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s certainly been a rough start to winter. And while the lack of snow is bad for snow-dependent businesses now, what does it mean for water supplies as we move into spring and summer?<\/p>\n Here in Colorado the dry start to winter is a sobering reminder of the importance of drought management and water conservation to maintain our quality of life and preserve our beautiful natural places. Thankfully, we\u2019ve got the Colorado Water Plan<\/a> which maps out solutions to deal with these scenarios as we move toward a warmer, drier, more populated future. Now we just need to ramp up its implementation.<\/p>\n [Tweet “Colorado snowpack is at 67% of average. Time is running out to make up the difference. #COriver https:\/\/www.edf.org\/Xry”]<\/p>\n Doing more with less<\/strong><\/p>\n One advantage Colorado water managers have is flexibility. Meaning there are tools in place that can be deployed to move limited supplies of water around to where it\u2019s needed most. During a dry year like this, that might mean moving water away from farms to meet demand in thirsty cities. Historically this would lead to farmland being pulled out of production, harming rural economies. But nowadays we have the opportunity to use flexible and innovative tools called Alternative Transfer Mechanisms (ATMs)<\/a>.<\/p>\n ATMs enable farmers to keep land available for agricultural production, while temporarily moving their water to cities, the environment or other users. This helps to maintain farmland viability in the state and introduces a new source of income for agricultural producers. This flexibility enables the state maintain a healthy agricultural economy and more easily meet water demands, even during times of drought.<\/p>\n The Colorado Water Plan sets a measurable objective to share at least 50,000 acre-feet of agricultural water using voluntary ATMs by 2030. Our estimates show that approximately 16,000 to 17,000 acre-feet of water is now moved annually using ATMs. That\u2019s one piece of the puzzle, but we\u2019ll need more rapid implementation to weather future weak snow years (and yes, they\u2019re becoming more frequent). And we\u2019ll certainly need to explore additional solutions if we\u2019re going to support the projected population growth that Colorado is headed towards.<\/p>\n There\u2019s still time<\/strong><\/p>\n There is still time left in the season, and it is possible that precipitation may increase. I\u2019m keeping my eye on a storm moving through the northern Rockies this afternoon. Maybe I\u2019ll go skiing.<\/p>\n Either way, I\u2019m thankful water managers in Colorado are ahead of the game and have taken precautions to keep reservoirs full. So far this winter has been a reminder of just how important this sort of long-term planning is. But planning isn\u2019t enough. Now we have to actually start bringing ATMs and other solutions to fruition.<\/p>\n Related:<\/em><\/p>\n Leasing water \u2013 a novel idea to combat \u201cbuy and dry\u201d in Colorado >><\/a><\/p>\n Why one wet winter won\u2019t solve California\u2019s water problems >><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov\/ftpref\/data\/water\/wcs\/basinsweplots\/co\/basinplotstate18.gif?\")