Environmental News
Environmental News from Boulder, Colorado
Flood season begins in Boulder Here’s how to be prepared
Apr 8th
April 10 to April 16, 2011, is Colorado Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the City of Boulder would like to remind community members that along with severe weather comes flash flood season. Boulder’s flood season officially begins in April and runs through the end of September, but floods can happen at any time.
Boulder is the number one flash flood risk community in Colorado due to its location at the mouth of Boulder Canyon, the number of people who live and work within the Boulder Creek floodplain, and the numerous other drainage basins running through the city. Therefore, flood safety and preparation is always a high priority for the community. However, following the Fourmile Canyon Fire, there is a lack of vegetation and permeable soil in the burn area. This creates an increased possibility of rain run-off and flooding on both Boulder Creek and Fourmile Canyon Creek if a severe storm were to occur over the burn area. This increased flood potential could last anywhere from 2 to 10 years until the landscape starts to recover.
The City of Boulder and its partners are working together to prepare for the season and to educate community members on how to prepare.
What can you do?
Be alert. It can be raining in the mountains and dry in Boulder. Rainfall in the burn area could result in:
Muddy or murky creek water downstream.
Creek levels rising more quickly.
Higher frequency of flooded underpasses.
Increased possibility of flash flooding.
If it is raining, avoid seeking shelter in underpasses. Many of Boulder’s underpasses serve the double purpose of conveying flood waters. This means that they are meant to flood and to help contain flood waters from overflowing into other areas.
Remember, flash floods can literally occur IN A FLASH during a severe storm. It’s important that residents and people who work in Boulder keep track of the weather and know the dangers. Here are some steps residents and employees can take to increase their safety if a flood event should occur in Boulder:
Before a flood – Be ready:
Have a plan for where to meet in an emergency and make sure children know where to go when they are at school or away from home.
Keep an emergency kit accessible. Include a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, flashlights, rubber boots and gloves, first-aid supplies, medicines, water stored in tightly-sealed containers and food that requires no cooking or refrigeration.
If you’re concerned about your property being flooded, consider purchasing flood insurance. A homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover flood damage. There is a 30-day waiting period before new coverage goes into effect.
Fill out a Family Flood Action Plan and post it in your home. Visit www.boulderfloodinfo.net to print off a Family Flood Action Plan or pick one up at one of the Boulder Public Library branches or at the city’s Municipal Building at 1777 Broadway.
Sign up to get emergency alerts sent to you on your phone, email or Twitter account at www.BoCo911Alert.com.
During a flood:
Move to higher ground immediately.
Stay out of flowing waters. Swift moving waters may sweep people away.
Avoid driving through flooded areas. Cars float in 18 inches of water and half of all flood fatalities are auto related.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution is the number two killer in floods.
If time allows, turn off electricity and gas.
When an emergency warning is issued by sirens, radio or other media, seek response information immediately. Tune radios to 850 AM or televisions to local news stations.
After a flood:
Stay away from disaster areas until authorized. Clean everything that got wet to avoid bacteria and mold.
Continue to monitor local media for disaster and recovery information.
There is no way to predict whether flooding will occur. It is dependent on many variables including intensity, duration and location of storms as well as existing soil conditions. The best course of action is to be alert and be prepared.
The city maintains a flood information website that can help residents prepare before, during and after a flood event. For more information about personal preparedness, visit www.boulderfloodinfo.net. To sign up for emergency alerts on your phone, email or Twitter account, go to www.BoCo911Alert.com.
MEASUREMENTS OF WINTER ARCTIC SEA ICE SHOWS CONTINUING ICE LOSS, SAYS CU-BOULDER STUDY
Mar 23rd
The 2011 Arctic sea ice extent maximum that marks the beginning of the melt season appears to be tied for the lowest ever measured by satellites, say scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder’s National Snow and Ice Data Center.
The CU-Boulder research team believes the lowest annual maximum ice extent of 5,650,000 square miles occurred on March 7. The maximum ice extent was 463,000 square miles below the 1979-2000 average, an area slightly larger than the states of Texas and California combined. The 2011 measurements were tied with those from 2006 as the lowest maximum sea ice extents measured since satellite record keeping began in 1979.
Virtually all climate scientists believe shrinking Arctic sea ice is tied to warming temperatures in the region caused by an increase in human-produced greenhouse gases being pumped into Earth’s atmosphere. Because of the spiraling downward trend of Arctic sea ice extent in the last decade, some CU scientists are predicting the Arctic Ocean may be ice free in the summers within the next several decades.
The seven lowest maximum Arctic sea ice extents measured by satellites all have occurred in the last seven years, said CU-Boulder Research Scientist Walt Meier of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, who participated the latest study. “I’m not surprised by the new data because we’ve seen a downward trend in winter sea ice extent for some time now.”
Scientists believe Arctic sea ice functions like an air conditioner for the global climate system by naturally cooling air and water masses, playing a key role in ocean circulation and reflecting solar radiation back into space, said Meier. In the Arctic summer months, sunlight is absorbed by the growing amounts of open water, raising surface temperatures and causing more ice to melt.
“I think one of the reasons the Arctic sea ice maximum extent is declining is that the autumn ice growth is delayed by warmer temperatures and the ice extent is not able to ‘catch up’ through the winter,” said Meier. “In addition, the clock runs out on the annual ice growth season as temperatures start to rise along with the sun during the spring months.”
Since satellite record keeping began in 1979, the maximum Arctic sea ice extent has occurred as early as Feb. 18 and as late as March 31, with an average date of March 6. Since the CU-Boulder researchers determine the maximum sea ice extent using a five-day running average, there is small chance the data could change.
In early April CU-Boulder’s National Snow and Ice Data Center will issue a formal announcement on the 2011 maximum sea ice extent with a full analysis of the winter ice growth season, including graphics comparing 2011 to the long-term record.
For more information visit http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews.
Residents may notice a change in taste of water starting tomorrow
Mar 21st
City of Boulder water customers in Gunbarrel, Heatherwood, Hoover Hills and areas north of Arapahoe Avenue and east of Foothills Parkway may notice a slight change in water taste on Tuesday, March 22, when the Utilities Division brings the Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant back into service. Service changes are a normal part of water treatment and distribution operations. No service interruptions are expected while the water source change occurs.
The possible taste change is due to differences in source water chemistry between the Boulder Reservoir Plant and the Betasso Treatment Plant. For more information, contact the city’s Betasso Water Treatment Facility at 303-441-3249.
