Land Desk reader, prolific (and sometimes snarky) commenter, master woodworker, and all around good guy Dave Grossman suggested the Land Desk hold its own Predict the Runoff Peak contest. And he even backed up the suggestion by putting up a prize for the winner: Handcrafted reclaimed-wood coasters! And I’m throwing in a
I love seeing all the great Peak Flow guesses! I live on the banks of the Colorado River, below the confluence of the Gunnison River (thus the name of my wood working business Confluence Woodcraft LLC), a bit upstream from the State Line gauge. The river has been a creamy red-brown color for weeks. I am currently thinking the coasters will be Juniper wood with a blue-green resin celebrating the red canyon walls of Ruby Horsethief Canyon where the gauge sits. But maybe I’ll explore color matching the color of the run off...
This is not a prediction on water flow rates, no logistic regression equation for this retired (tired) statistician – I leave that to others wiser than I. This is a comment on the unprecedented amount of water to be released from Lake Powell. It’s weird, seems that all I read and hear about in California is that Lake Powell and Mead have reached critical low levels that are threatening our water supply and generation of hydroelectricity. The justification for this Lake Powell release is to simulate a flood in the Grand Canyon! This seems rather strange to me, but then I don’t claim to be a water capture and delivery expert. If one of Jonathan’s many readers has a contrary view perhaps, they can enlighten this cynical old guy. Thank you.
Thanks, Jonathan, for hosting this interesting opportunity to engage a spectrum of people in considering river flows, timing, and how snowpack and springtime weather influences runoff. Already I see some great guesses and I think it is really interesting to think that a guess in the mid 20’s is just as valid as a guess in the mid-40s. So many complex variables to consider… Although when Tom K put in is guess, I could hear it echo throughout the Grand Valley. But maybe that’s just me trying to drop the qualifier “sometimes” from my reputation.
I guess I'm being optimistic since I am in the Dolores area and we have been clobbered! So: Dolores @ Gateway 06/10 - 5,600 CFS. Co @ State Line 06/01 - 40,000 CFS. It's been really cold in the region so there is a lot of hang fire. Cool contest!
Curious if readers have favorite USGS gages they follow year-round, during big water events, close-to-home, or near their favorite place they just take comfort in knowing it exists.
I love seeing all the great Peak Flow guesses! I live on the banks of the Colorado River, below the confluence of the Gunnison River (thus the name of my wood working business Confluence Woodcraft LLC), a bit upstream from the State Line gauge. The river has been a creamy red-brown color for weeks. I am currently thinking the coasters will be Juniper wood with a blue-green resin celebrating the red canyon walls of Ruby Horsethief Canyon where the gauge sits. But maybe I’ll explore color matching the color of the run off...
This is not a prediction on water flow rates, no logistic regression equation for this retired (tired) statistician – I leave that to others wiser than I. This is a comment on the unprecedented amount of water to be released from Lake Powell. It’s weird, seems that all I read and hear about in California is that Lake Powell and Mead have reached critical low levels that are threatening our water supply and generation of hydroelectricity. The justification for this Lake Powell release is to simulate a flood in the Grand Canyon! This seems rather strange to me, but then I don’t claim to be a water capture and delivery expert. If one of Jonathan’s many readers has a contrary view perhaps, they can enlighten this cynical old guy. Thank you.
June 15 , 30,800 cfs Colorado River
CO River: 29,900 cfs, June 10th
Dolores: 7,850 cfs, June 3rd
Colorado state line: 35,000 cfs on June 12
Dolores: 5,000 cfs on June 1
Colorado River--May 22, 24,500 CFS
Dolores River--April 14, 6690 cfs
18,432 cfs on May 27th 2023 (from Audrey Kruse)
34.5k at the Stateline on June 1st, 7.2k at Gateway on May 14th
Thanks, Jonathan, for hosting this interesting opportunity to engage a spectrum of people in considering river flows, timing, and how snowpack and springtime weather influences runoff. Already I see some great guesses and I think it is really interesting to think that a guess in the mid 20’s is just as valid as a guess in the mid-40s. So many complex variables to consider… Although when Tom K put in is guess, I could hear it echo throughout the Grand Valley. But maybe that’s just me trying to drop the qualifier “sometimes” from my reputation.
I guess I'm being optimistic since I am in the Dolores area and we have been clobbered! So: Dolores @ Gateway 06/10 - 5,600 CFS. Co @ State Line 06/01 - 40,000 CFS. It's been really cold in the region so there is a lot of hang fire. Cool contest!
Yampa @ Deerlodge 27,400 June 1
Colorado @ State Line: 45,700cfs June 6
Colorado River, June 11, 30,000 cfs
Curious if readers have favorite USGS gages they follow year-round, during big water events, close-to-home, or near their favorite place they just take comfort in knowing it exists.
June 7. 30,000 cfs
22,000 cfs May 20th! You heard it here first!
42,000 cfs on May 24th at the Colorado/Utah border