Middle Colorado Watershed Council’s New Water Quality Column
An informational digest to connect readers with data and stories about water quality along the middle reach of the Colorado River put together by SGM Engineering
New Data Dashboards Set Up For Municipal Water Plants to Track Changes in Water Quality
MCWC has been working closely with water providers downstream of Glenwood Canyon to set-up a customizable and intuitive water quality data dashboard
The dashboard will allow water providers to customize alerts and monitoring for key water quality parameters in the Colorado River using real-time data collected along the mainstem: turbidity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and fDOM
Stakeholders include Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt, Rifle, Parachute, De Beque and the Battlement Mesa Metro District, as well as the recreational and agricultural communities.
Stay tuned for more news about MCWC’s Water Quality Dashboard’s public interface!
Rain Gauges Continue to Monitor Weather in the Canyon
Six of the seven new USGS new rain gauges in Glenwood Canyon are on-line again for the season and are ready for the runoff and monsoon seasons. Funding has been secured to maintain these gauges for next three years as an integral component to emergency preparedness for Eagle and Garfield Counties, CDOT, City of Glenwood Springs, and other communities along the Middle Colorado River reach
Colorado River mainstem streamflow has been increasing since the third week of March (roughly 03/24/22).
Minimum streamflow since September 2021 was approximately 709 in December 2021 to
Streamflow has reached a maximum value and is trending downward
Water quality parameters are changing/varying slightly except for turbidity
Turbidity, or cloudiness, in the Colorado River has been increasing as the Spring 2022 runoff continues
Here’s a snapshot of the turbidity in the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs since September 1st last year:
Figure 1. Turbidity in the Colorado River from September 1, 2021, through May 21, 2022, from the USGS stream gage site on the Colorado River just below the confluence with the Roaring Fork River in Glenwood Springs, CO.
Glenwood Canyon Debris Clean Up
Clean-up from the July 2021 Glenwood Canyon debris flow events is nearly complete by CDOT
CDOT is still implementing the Glenwood Canyon safety closure protocol when heavy rains are in the forecast so be prepared for I-70 closures again in 2022.
Fire and Debris Flow Impacts on the Watershed, Water Quality, Riparian Health and Highway Infrastructure
Suggested donation: $25 all proceeds go towards MCWC's post-fire mitigation, water quality monitoring and restoration efforts. You can donate through MCWC's Colorado Gives Page or bring cash or a check to the event.
Be Prepared for Summer Hiking: Bring your own water. Wear hiking shoes/boots and layers of clothes to be ready for day’s weather. Bring sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and rain jacket. No pets please.
Tour will be postponed if inclement weather. (Photo by Mike Sawyer)
22 Ways to Care for Colorado Water in 2022
Water22.org shares ideas on how you can decrease your water use this year. Click here to learn about easy steps that can save 22 or more gallons a day.
Take the pledge to preserve and protect Colorado water! Click here.
Colorado Natural Heritage Programbrings CSU interns to Rifle Ranch in May for a riparian workshop, weed mapping and monitoring last year's planting areas for survival.
MCWC partners with Garfield County Outdoors
Garfield County Outdoors (GCO) is a collaborative initiative in the watershed that connects youth and families to the outdoors as part of the Re-2 and Garfield 16 School Districts and their communities. MCWC looks forward to collaborating with the range of partners involved with GCO and exploring future joint funding opportunities to advance our watershed education goals.
Scott Partan, Program Director for GCO, (pictured) heads up the initiative that includes over a dozen partnering organizations ranging from the school district and individual schools to non-profits, private, and government partners. Scott also oversees the GCO programming in the Re-2 District. Ari Philipson is the newly appointed Outdoor Education Coordinator excited to head the G16 service area.
Paid Internship Open at the River Stop in Rifle this Summer
Help MCWC's Watershed Specialist manage River Stop operations and weekend volunteers this summer through a new paid internship program. The intern will be trained in and participate in setting up best practices for operating a natural resources visitor center; learn management skills for working with volunteers and methods for successfully engaging drop-in visitors; and work on print and digital marketing campaigns for event promotion. Must be 18 or older. Position starts July 1 and finishes at the end of September. Email resume and cover letter on why you’d like to take on this part-time position.
To apply or for questions, email admin@midcowatershed.org
Early Morning Irrigation
Waking up before the sun rises is part of the life of a farmer and rancher in Western Colordo. Raymond and Elaine Langstaff go out early to get water on their fields near Rifle in early May.
MCWC Project Wish List
The Middle Colorado Watershed Council is enhancing and expanding two of their core projects under the direction of Watershed Specialist Jennifer Brown: River Watch Citizen Science Monitoring and the RiverStop, our Colorado River interpretive center. Community contributions will help fund equipment. If you'd like to help, please email info@midcowatershed.org.
Stream Table, estimated cost $6,500
Children's pull-on rubber boots for water sampling, $35 each
Adult's pull-on rubber boots for water sampling, $40 each
General field supplies
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A small donation goes a long way. Sponsor a student to test water quality, spearhead the removal of an invasive tamarisk, or support the replanting of willows and cottonwoods in our waterways. We need your support.
Water22.org shares ideas on how you can decrease your water use this year. 
Garfield County Outdoors (GCO) is a collaborative initiative in the watershed that connects youth and families to the outdoors as part of the Re-2 and Garfield 16 School Districts and their communities. MCWC looks forward to collaborating with the range of partners involved with GCO and exploring future joint funding opportunities to advance our watershed education goals. 
