1. Water and Climate Craig Cotten Division Engineer Colorado Division of Water Resources

2. 19 States & Mexico Rely on Colorado Water

3. Colorado’s Eight Major Basins
Yampa
/White
North
Platte
Colorado
South Platte
Arkansas
Rio Grande
Gunnison
San Juan/
Dolores

11. West Wide Climate Risk Assessment: Upper Rio Grande Impact Assessment
Bureau of Reclamation Publication
Authored by Dagmar Llewellyn and Seshu Vaddey

12. Rio Grande Headwaters. Rio Grande near Del Norte
Rio Grande Headwaters Rio Grande near Del Norte Conejos River near Mogote San Antonio River at Ortiz Los Pinos River near Ortiz

13. FINDINGS, by 2099:
Flows at these sites will decrease by approximately 33% overall
Peak flow will move to earlier in the year, from June to May
Most flow decrease will occur from June to September

14. Climate Change
Relatively small, gradual decrease in annual precipitation
Highly variable annual precipitation amounts
More frequent rainfall events – Less frequent snowfall events
Warming Temps expected to diminish snowfall accumulation
Warming Temps lead to increased ET, decreased runoff

19. Thank you! Questions?