In an innovative approach to tackling the challenges of water management in the Colorado River Basin, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) from Reno, Nevada, is implementing floating weather stations on key reservoirs. These installations aim to provide precise data to better understand evaporation processes that have long impacted water availability in the region, which is grappling with the effects of prolonged drought and increased demand.
This scientific initiative is a collaborative effort involving DRI, the Upper Colorado River Commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This summer, the focus is on setting up monitoring stations on the Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa, and Navajo reservoirs. This project builds upon previous studies conducted at Lake Powell, which has been gathering evaporation data since 2019, marking it as one of the most extensive studies of its kind in the Western United States.
According to Chris Pearson, a hydrologist with DRI, “This project places our monitoring equipment in the middle of the reservoir to provide a cleaner picture of air temperature, humidity, wind speed over the water, as well as the water temperature signal at the center of the water body.”
The advanced design of these floating stations allows them to float directly atop the water, providing a more accurate representation of the climatic conditions affecting evaporation than traditional shore-based stations. This strategic placement helps scientists gather comprehensive data on the factors influencing evaporation.
In addition to on-site measurements, researchers will integrate data with OpenET, a satellite-based platform that tracks water movement from terrestrial to atmospheric phases. Pearson emphasizes that improved evaporation estimates can significantly enhance water budget predictions and support data-driven management strategies for water resources.
While long-term monitoring of reservoir evaporation isn’t a novel concept, the continuous collection of data over open water remains rare. DRI has been at the forefront of such efforts, also participating in the Bureau of Reclamation’s Open Water Evaporation Network Initiative and conducting research in Texas.
Accurate evaporation estimates alone cannot resolve the Colorado River’s complex water issues, but they can reduce the uncertainty surrounding water loss from the region’s largest reservoirs. This improved understanding aids water managers in crafting informed decisions as they work to renegotiate the river’s operational guidelines, which are crucial for the approximately 40 million people depending on this vital water source across the Western United States.
This article is a contribution by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration among KUNR, Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNC in Northern Colorado, KANW in New Mexico, Colorado Public Radio, KJZZ in Arizona, and NPR, with additional support from partner newsrooms across the area. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
