Gunnison County holds off on fire restrictions

Drought conditions cover 100% of the county

By Katherine Nettles 

Warming temperatures and lack of precipitation has led to a forecast of significant wildfire potential in western Colorado, however the Gunnison County fire council decided not to enact fire restrictions locally this week.

The fire council, made up of the Gunnison County sheriff’s department, emergency services department, public lands managers and researchers, determined during their weekly meeting on Wednesday, June 10 that they would not yet enact stage 1 fire restrictions based on several factors. A red flag warning has already been in effect with high winds. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests, White River National Forest and National Park Service all agreed not to enter fire restrictions, and as Gunnison County sheriff Adam Murdie reviewed the day before with county commissioners, his department works hard to coordinate with these entities to keep messaging clear. The council will meet again next week to reevaluate the situation.

Following the fire council meeting on Wednesday, Gunnison County deputy emergency manager Ryan White shared the summary of current conditions criteria used by the various agencies. At least three of the four criteria must generally be met to implement stage 1 fire restrictions. The first, fire danger, was found to be present; the second, human caused fires within the past seven days, was not met. The third, live fuel moistures at or approaching historical levels, was partially met but did not fully hit the threshold and the fourth, no significant relief in the weather forecast, was found present.

During an update to county commissioners on Tuesday, Colorado River District, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD), Blue Mesa operations and sheriff Murdie all spoke of the tough conditions in the basin this early summer and how they affect various aspects of community well-being.

Colorado River District director of government relations Zane Kessler summarized, “Runoff peaked unusually early and at a fraction of normal levels.

“Reservoirs are struggling to fill and or agriculture that means shorter irrigation seasons, reduced allocations and in some cases, real crop loss,” Kessler said.

Kessler and others said there will be ecological consequences as well, and the districts are working with state and federal partners for outreach, mitigation and financial support.

UGRWCD senior program manager Beverly Richards shared the latest information about specific conditions across the Gunnison River Basin. The drought monitor, issued June 2, showed that Gunnison County is now 100% in drought. “We were at 98% in the last report,” said Richards of the April monitor. “We are drying out and the lack of precipitation is not helping.”

Gunnison County has not seen drastic change in drought conditions since April. Precipitation for the water year is 77% of the median, at 19.5 inches. This is similar to 2012, which 2026 has tracked pretty closely with all year. There has not been any precipitation in June, but Richards noted that is not unusual as early June does not historically see much moisture.

“They are forecasting an active monsoon this year,” said Richards, “but if we continue to trend with 2012 it likely will not make that big of a difference.” She said in 2012, the monsoon season started around July 4.

Temperature conditions in the basin have ranged in the beginning of June from normal to as much as six degrees above normal, with a maximum of 80.6 degrees. The forecast shows continued warming, added Richards.

Soil moisture maps show decreasing soil moisture, which Rishards said is a concern for fire danger and expected to continue through July.

Streamflows in the basin have seen a steady decline since peaking and sit at about 20% to 30% of what is normal for this time of year, with the exception that Tomichi Creek has been running low for months. Some streams “rebounded slightly” from the hot and dry March and even made it past the usual peak date. “For the most part, the entire basin peaked on May 15,” said Richards, with the Gunnison River in Gunnison peaking a second time on May 29.

Blue Mesa worries

Caleb Foy, senior water resources engineer with the Colorado River District, gave a hydrology update that Taylor Park and Blue Mesa will both have record-low levels.

“We are dropping below some pretty critical levels in Blue Mesa Reservoir,” he said, based on minimum probability studies. He noted this can be a danger for increased algal blooms, recreation impacts and puts hydropower generation at risk. He said a group of stakeholders is working together on the issue, and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) representatives also met in person with commissioners and other local water experts to discuss Blue Mesa levels and operations on Tuesday.

Area manager for BOR in western Colorado Bart Deming said, “We’re in unprecedented times in terms of the drought and where we are reservoir storage-wise.” He said that applies to eastern and western Colorado and across the west. He did say the BOR has flexibility for how to manage the water that remains under current conditions, but tough decisions lay ahead trying to find ways to conserve water and deliver Black Canyon water rights without harming operations such as Blue Mesa. 

Commissioner Jonathan Houck acknowledged that the water in Blue Mesa belongs to others and Gunnison County holds it, enjoys recreation and enjoys its economic benefits. Deming said they anticipated Blue Mesa releases on July 2, 7 and 27 to deliver downstream obligations, but they had determined there was not enough water for additional releases. “That conversation will happen again, I’m sure, going into the next water year,” he said.

Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels asked what would happen if the reservoir dropped below the “power pool” for generating hydropower, and there was no clear answer available in that unchartered territory. Deming said ultimately power would still be provided from elsewhere.

Puckett Daniels expressed her concern about the economic impacts of the reservoir being drawn down any other times in the future, or in future low water years. “Does the BOR consider these secondary uses of the water?” she asked.

BOR representatives said they were essentially directed by congressional decision making.

“We’re going to do everything we can do to avoid minimum power pool,” said Deming. He added that if they could, the BOR would consider holding off a few weeks when they do have to take water from the reservoir to allow the short summer season to run its course.