My Page: Bryan Hurlbutt
State of the Rockies Project
Spring Snowpack Projected to Drop by over 60% at Utah Ski Resorts by 2085Snowpack on April 1 is estimated to decline substantially at all major ski resorts in the Rockies according to a study recently released in the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card. Projected snowpack losses range from 26% in Teton County, Wyoming (home to Jackson Hole), to 89% in Taos County, New Mexico, which could have devastating affects on the ski industry and communities in the region, not to mention regional water supplies. In Utah, Summit County will lose 61% and Salt Lake County will lose 84% of spring snowpack under the scenario.
The State of the Rockies Project hired ATMOS Research and Consulting to downscale the HadCM3 global climate model for the 8-state Rocky Mountain West, outputting temperature, precipitation, and snowpack in 1976 and 2085 in 12 kilometer grids across the region. State of the Rockies analyzed the data to assess climate’s future impact on the region’s water resources, tourism, and ecosystems. Although these specific findings are not necessarily what will happen (since modeling climate is a tricky endeavor), this is a very realistic scenario, using a highly regarded, middle of the road climate model. The report suggests that mitigating fossil fuel use is important to minimizing human-induced climate change, but climate change is already underway. Therefore, it’s time to start seriously considering the implications of climate change and corresponding adaptation strategies. Click here for the Climate Change section of the report (PDF). Share your thoughts!
State of the Rockies Project
Spring Snowpack Projected to Drop by over 30% at Montana Ski Resorts by 2085Snowpack on April 1 is estimated to decline substantially at all major ski resorts in the Rockies according to a study recently released in the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card. Projected snowpack losses range from 26% in Teton County, Wyoming (home to Jackson Hole), to 89% in Taos County, New Mexico, which could have devastating affects on the ski industry and communities in the region, not to mention regional water supplies. In Montana, Flathead County will lose 34% and Gallatin County would lose 33% of spring snowpack under the scenario.
The State of the Rockies Project hired ATMOS Research and Consulting to downscale the HadCM3 global climate model for the 8-state Rocky Mountain West, outputting temperature, precipitation, and snowpack in 1976 and 2085 in 12 kilometer grids across the region. State of the Rockies analyzed the data to assess climate’s future impact on the region’s water resources, tourism, and ecosystems. Although these specific findings are not necessarily what will happen (since modeling climate is a tricky endeavor), this is a very realistic scenario, using a highly regarded, middle of the road climate model. The report suggests that mitigating fossil fuel use is important to minimizing human-induced climate change, but climate change is already underway. Therefore, it’s time to start seriously considering the implications of climate change and corresponding adaptation strategies. Click here for the Climate Change section of the report (PDF). Share your thoughts!
Snowpack on April 1 is estimated to decline substantially at all major ski resorts in the Rockies according to a study recently released in the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card. Projected snowpack losses range from 26% in Teton County, Wyoming (home to Jackson Hole), to 89% in Taos County, New Mexico, which could have devastating affects on the ski industry and communities in the region, not to mention regional water supplies. In Colorado, Routt, Grand, Eagle, Summit, Pitkin, and Gunnison counties are all projected to see losses of around 50%, and San Miguel County (home to Telluride) would see a loss of 82%.
The State of the Rockies Project hired ATMOS Research and Consulting to downscale the HadCM3 global climate model for the 8-state Rocky Mountain West, outputting temperature, precipitation, and snowpack in 1976 and 2085 in 12 kilometer grids across the region. State of the Rockies analyzed the data to assess climate’s future impact on the region’s water resources, tourism, and ecosystems. Although these specific findings are not necessarily what will happen (since modeling climate is a tricky endeavor), this is a very realistic scenario, using a highly regarded, middle of the road climate model. The report suggests that mitigating fossil fuel use is important to minimizing human-induced climate change, but climate change is already underway. Therefore, it’s time to start seriously considering the implications of climate change and corresponding adaptation strategies. Click here for the Climate Change section of the report (PDF). Share your thoughts!
State of the Rockies Project
Study Suggests Substantial Snowpack Loss at West’s Ski Resorts by 2085Snowpack on April 1 is estimated to decline substantially at all major ski resorts in the Rockies according to a study recently released in the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card. Projected snowpack losses range from 26% in Teton County, Wyoming (home to Jackson Hole), to 89% in Taos County, New Mexico, which could have devastating affects on the ski industry and communities in the region. Additionally, the region’s river basins, which depend on spring snowmelt to supply water to the region’s farms and municipalities, would see similarly drastic losses. And ecoregions in the Rockies will see temperature changes in the range of 5-7 degrees Celsius, putting serious stress on species in the region.
The State of the Rockies Project hired ATMOS Research and Consulting to downscale the HadCM3 global climate model for the 8-state Rocky Mountain West, outputting temperature, precipitation, and snowpack in 1976 and 2085 in 12 kilometer grids across the region. State of the Rockies analyzed the data to assess climate’s future impact on the region’s water resources, tourism, and ecosystems. Although these specific findings are not necessarily what will happen (since modeling climate is a tricky endeavor), this is a very realistic scenario, using a highly regarded, middle of the road climate model. The report suggests that mitigating fossil fuel use is important to minimizing human-induced climate change, but climate change is already underway. Therefore, it’s time to start seriously considering the implications of climate change and corresponding adaptation strategies. Click here for the Climate Change section of the report (PDF).
State of the Rockies Project
Report Shows Rockies States are Neglected in National PoliticsThe Rocky Mountain region's distinctive features -- its vast open space, large proportion of federal lands, aridity, small population coupled with rapid population growth, abundance of natural amenities and natural resources, and popularity to vacationers -- create a unique set of challenges for the region, which are often ignored in national politics. The rest of the nation is able to take advantage of the region as it takes gold, timber, and vacation homes while leaving behind toxic landscapes, devastated forests, and cold-bed communities. A new report in the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card, "A Common Western Voice," urges that the region develop a strong voice in regional issues and suggests that hosting an early, blocked Western states presidential primary may be just the tool for doing so.
But is the Rockies Region really treated this poorly? Can the region work together to articulate a common voice? Is a blocked presidential primary enough to make the voice heard, and is it even a realistic possibility? (Click here for the "A Common
Western Voice" section of the Report Card (PDF)). Share your thoughts!
Editor's note: Bryan Hurlbutt is a co-author of the State of the Rockies Report Card. We'll be releasing sections of the report in the coming weeks for discussion here on New West.
2006 State of the Rockies
Rockies Growing More Than Three Times Faster Than U.S., Report Shows
Some still hold a romantic view of the Mountain West as a lawless, backward land of rugged cowboys roaming remote locations, fending for themselves, and living off the land. This report, just released in the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card, dispels some of these common myths. "Rockies Baseline—Vital Signs for a Region in Transition" shows that in the Rockies region we are well-educated, highly mobile, and for better or worse, most of us work in offices. Additionally, the region’s population is growing over three times faster than that of the U.S. (Click here for the Rockies Baseline section of the report (PDF))
What’s your experience? Do you and your friends work on your own off of the land, or do you work with others in an office? Is the cowboy myth completely wrong, or is it still an important part of understanding the West? Read the report and respond!
Editor's note: The author is the co-author of the 2006 Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card. We will be periodically releasing PDFs of the report throughout the next several weeks for you discussion.
