by Michael Elizabeth SakasMay, 23 2021 (Weekend Edition Sunday / CPR News)
Colorado Snow Survey supervisor Brian Domonkos and civil engineer Madison Gutekunst of the USDA weigh snow to know how much moisture it holds on April 30, 2021. Image: Michael Elizabeth Sakas/CPR News
There s still snow in Colorado s mountains near the headwaters of the South Platte River, and Brian Domonkos has strapped on a pair of cross-country skis to come measure it.
He s the Colorado Snow Survey supervisor, and knowing how much snowpack is left from the winter to runoff into streams, rivers and reservoirs this summer is crucial, especially in a year when much of the West is in extreme drought. As it melts, the snowpack here will become the primary source of water for millions of people in Colorado and across the West.