Colorado Dust-on-Snow Project

Category: Other
Organization: Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
Date Approved: September 2016
Basin Funds: $2,500
State Funds: $35,000

Dust on snowpack events advance snowmelt timing, enhance runoff intensity, and decrease snowmelt yields. This project funded multifaceted efforts to educate the public and monitor dust-on-snow impacts. These efforts included dust-on-snow field campaigns to track the severity and extent of dust events for water years 2017-2019; timely and applicable updates and alerts; operation of long-term snow system study sites in the San Juan Mountains; maintenance and upgrades to project websites; development of visualization and interpretive tools; and educational outreach to K-12 schools in Southwest Colorado.