Climate change and its resulting warming temperatures resulted in extremely low snowpack this winter, the worst we’ve seen since 2012. Due to low snowpack, our watersheds will suffer low flows, which will impact the way we use the outdoors this summer.
If you were hoping for outstanding fly fishing in Southwest Colorado, you may be disappointed in a matter of weeks. When stream flow is low enough, like it will be soon in the Animas, San Miguel, Dolores and San Juan river basins, it can inhibit dissolved oxygen, stressing fish beyond their ideal levels for a sustainable life, not to mention the added stress of increased water temperatures. This will restrict access to fresh-water fishing as anglers should not fish when water temperatures reach 70 degrees.
If left unchecked, climate change will continue to dictate our access to the outdoors, as well as impact biological diversity in streams and rivers and agricultural and municipal water users.
Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Cortez) intends to let climate change go unchecked and carry on with business as usual. Business as usual is not good enough.
It’s time Rep. Tipton acts in his constituents’ best interest and acknowledges the toll climate change takes on his district. Anglers and fish alike will thank him.
Kara Armano
Hesperus
