Colorado’s vibrant fall foliage offers more than visual splendor and an economic boost. It’s an indicator of water conditions.
Every fall, Coloradans and visitors dust off their cameras and binoculars to take in the fall colors. But each year’s display has a lot to do with one key factor, water, and whether there’s enough of it.
Over the past two decades, many regions of Colorado have experienced dry or drought conditions. This prolonged drought has shaken communities’ certainty in their future water supply, impacted business for farmers and ranchers and changed aquatic conditions for wildlife. And, yes, even fall colors are impacted by drought, according to entomologist Dan West, the Colorado State Forest Service’s go-to guy for information about the fall colors.
“When trees are in drought for several years, what ends up happening is they’re shutting down some of their processes and trying to dial back some of their growth,” West said.
The colorful fall foliage, which typically peaks from mid-September to early October, is part of Colorado’s multibillion-dollar tourism industry. People from around the world flock to the Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton, the Dallas Divide near Ridgway, Kebler Pass near Crested Butte and other Colorado forests to see spectacular views of the changing leaves.