DIRTY SNOW COULD BE TROUBLE FOR SNOWMELT
DENVER (AP) – Dust blown in from the Southwest settled on snow through much of Colorado during this week’s storm and will eventually affect how fast the snowpack melts.
Researchers say it fell in Steamboat Springs, Fort Collins, Summit County, and the San Juan mountains. It was also seen in the Denver area. Chris Landry of the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies has been surveying the conditions for water providers. He said Friday that if more clean snow keeps falling, the impact of the dust will be delayed. However, he said once this week’s snow layer and another deeper layer of dust from an April 8 storm are exposed, the snowmelt will accelerate because the dust absorbs sunlight.
NOAA (NOAH) researcher Jeffrey Deems compares the effect to wearing a dark t-shirt on a sunny day.
AVALANCHE DEATH NEAR VAIL PASS
VAIL (AP) – Eagle County sheriff’s deputies say a snowboarder has died after being caught in a backcountry avalanche in an area called Avalanche Bowl south of Vail Pass. Investigators say three friends were snowboarding when the avalanche occurred yesterday. The others were able to find their friend using avalanche beacons, but were unable to revive the person.
CHANGES IN STORE FOR COLORADO ELECTIONS
DENVER (AP) – House Democrats advanced major changes to how Colorado elections are run, including sending a ballot to every registered voter and allowing same-day voter registration. Both parties argued for hours before taking an initial unrecorded voice vote yesterday evening after Republicans posed more than a dozen unsuccessful amendments.
CU BOULDER RUNNING LOW ON STATE FUNDS
BOULDER (AP) – The University of Colorado is setting up an advisory team of 11 people from businesses and the public, asking them to find new funding for the school. According to the Boulder Daily Camera, Chancellor Phil DiStefano says he also wants advice on better ways to serve students and improve research opportunities.
