Water & Snow

Middle Park is at the headwaters of the Colorado River.  Water quantity and quality is highly dependent on the health and resiliency of watershed and ecosystem from which it originates; as such, what happens here has the potential to affect millions of downstream users stretching all the way to California, Mexico, and even the Front Range.  Water shortages, a growing downstream population, and transmountain diversions all threaten the water resources here in Middle Park.  However, if efficient water conservation practices are implemented now, landowners will be able protect the water resources they currently have and control.  Additionally, many wildlife species inhabit the streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and wetlands in Middle Park; it is imperative that we conserve our water resources for the wildlife that inhabit and use them.  Middle Park Conservation District hopes to 1) Educate landowners on water conservation and the link between water quantity/quality and watershed resiliency; 2) Provide funding opportunities for water conservation projects; 3) Increase the habitat value of our water resources for the wildlife that inhabit and use them.

Snow Surveys Info
Blue River Regional Watershed Plan (Summit County)
Flood Ready Guide
Weather Information
Grand County Drought Preparedness Page
Routine Water Conservation Practices
Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin
Contact your local Water Commissioner
MPCD’s Ultimate Land Management & Rural Living Guide

Want to know how the streams are running? Click on the map to visit the USGS site for real time water data!

Water Information Links

Citizen’s Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (CQHEI)
Parshall Flume Measuring Table
Small Acreage Irrigation Guide from CSU Extension
Detailed Water Law Summary from Colorado Foundation for Water Education
Water Leasing FAQ from Colorado Water Trust

MPCD Newsletter Articles

Micro Hydropower (light blue box)
Rain Barrel Bill (dark blue box)
Source Water Protection (dark blue box)
Living Snow Fences (dark bluish green box in left column)
Connection Between Soil & Weather (pink box)
Information on Pond Cleaning and Permit Requirements (light blue box)
Stream Stewardship Handbook (light blue box in left column)
The Map that Changed How We View the West (blue box at the bottom)
How shadeballs can affect your cow water tank (purple box halfway down)

Other E-Newsletters