By Sara Loflin, ProgressNow Colorado
Colorado faces an alarming increase in drought conditions, driven by a combination of rising temperatures and fast-melting snowpack. The state relies heavily on its snowpack for water, with much of the region’s water supply being stored in the mountains as snow during the winter months.
However, warmer winters and hotter springs have led to the snow melting earlier and faster, reducing the water available during the critical summer months. At the beginning of this summer, the Colorado Sun warned that most areas of the state could be at risk for drought, and that we could see impacts on fish populations, recreation opportunities, irrigation supplies, and wildfires.
Throughout the summer, prolonged drought conditions, coupled with the rapid loss of snowpack, have significantly increased the occurrence of wildfires across the state. This combination of conditions laid the foundation for three wildfires that ignited at the end of July, according to Colorado climate and water experts (Colorado Sun).
This is bad enough; yet the impacts on our health and safety don’t end there.
These wildfires have significantly increased the amount of ozone pollution in our air (CBS), directly harming those who live down wind.
This vicious cycle underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to climate policy that not only addresses planet-warming emissions that continue to melt our snowpack faster and faster, but also considers the broader environmental impacts of drought. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing investment in renewable energy, and implementing stricter air quality regulations, Colorado can begin to break this cycle and protect its water resources, reduce wildfire risk, and improve the health of its residents.
The state must prioritize policies that mitigate both ozone pollution and climate change to safeguard its future.