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Lafayette
Eden Index
Climate
8.7
•
Recreation
5.4
•
Community
4.9
•
Safeguard
6.6/10
Lafayette, Colorado is a small city located in Boulder County, nestled in the picturesque Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The city experiences a semi-arid climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and pleasant with average temperatures ranging from the low 80s to mid-90s Fahrenheit, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping. Winters are cold with average temperatures in the 30s and occasional snowfall, making it a great destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
Lafayette is home to Coal Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, which runs through the city, providing a scenic and serene environment. The hydrology constituents of Lafayette include wetlands, creeks, and reservoirs, offering opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and bird-watching.
The city boasts an extensive parks and open space system, with over 20 parks and 20 miles of trails. Popular outdoor recreation opportunities include Waneka Lake Park, with its picturesque lake for fishing and boating, and Indian Peaks Wilderness, which offers breathtaking mountain vistas, hiking, camping, and backpacking.
Overall, Lafayette provides a perfect blend of a pleasant climate, beautiful hydrology constituents, and numerous outdoor recreation opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.
What is the Eden Index?
The Snoflo Eden Index serves as a comprehensive rating system for regions, evaluating their desirability through a holistic assessment of climate health, outdoor recreation opportunities, and natural disaster risk, acknowledging the profound impact of these factors on livability and well-being.
Climate Health Indicator (CHI): 8.7
Lafayette receives approximately
351mm of rain per year,
with humidity levels near 50%
and air temperatures averaging around
11°C.
Lafayette has a plant hardyness factor of
5, meaning
plants and agriculture in this region thrive during a short period during spring and early summer. Most
plants will die off during the colder winter months.
By considering the ideal temperature range, reliable water supplies, clean air, and stable seasonal rain or snowpacks, the Climate Health Indicator (CHI) underscores the significance of a healthy climate as the foundation for quality living.
A healthy climate is paramount for ensuring a high quality of life and livability in a region, fostering both physical well-being and environmental harmony. This can be characterized by ideal temperatures, reliable access to water supplies, clean air, and consistent seasonal rain or snowpacks.
Weather Forecast
Streamflow Conditions
South Platte
Area Rivers
South Platte
Snowpack Depths
South Platte
Reservoir Storage Capacity
South Platte
Groundwater Levels
Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI): 5.4
The Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI) recognizes the value of outdoor recreational options, such as parks, hiking trails, camping sites, and fishing spots, while acknowledging that climate plays a pivotal role in ensuring the comfort and consistency of these experiences.
Access to outdoor recreational opportunities, encompassing activities such as parks, hiking, camping, and fishing, is crucial for overall well-being, and the climate plays a pivotal role in enabling and enhancing these experiences, ensuring that individuals can engage in nature-based activities comfortably and consistently.
Camping Areas
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Creek | 9 | 8,179 ft | |||
| Platte River | 10 | 6,333 ft | |||
| Osprey | 13 | 6,217 ft | |||
| Lone Rock | 20 | 6,410 ft | |||
| Indian Creek | 11 | 7,562 ft | |||
| Flat Rocks | 19 | 8,245 ft | |||
| Wigwam | 10 | 6,606 ft | |||
| Kelsey | 17 | 8,035 ft | |||
| Ouzel | 13 | 6,285 ft | |||
| Devils Head | 21 | 8,856 ft |
Nearby Ski Areas
Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI):
The Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI) recognizes that natural disaster risk, encompassing floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, can drastically affect safety and the overall appeal of an area.
The level of natural disaster risk in a region significantly affects safety and the overall livability, with climate change amplifying these risks by potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of events like floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, thereby posing substantial challenges to community resilience and well-being.
Community Resilience Indicator (CRI): 4.9
The Community Resilience Indicator (CRI) recognizes that education, healthcare, and socioeconomics are crucial to the well-being of a region. The CRI acknowledges the profound impact of these elements on residents' overall quality of life. By evaluating educational resources, healthcare accessibility, and economic inclusivity, the index captures the essential aspects that contribute to a thriving community, fostering resident satisfaction, equity, and social cohesion.