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Rifle
Eden Index
Climate
7.5
•
Recreation
3.5
•
Community
•
Safeguard
4.2/10
Rifle, Colorado is a small town located in Garfield County. It experiences a semi-arid climate, characterized by hot summers and cold winters. Summers are generally dry with temperatures reaching the mid-80s to low 90s Fahrenheit, while winter temperatures range from the 20s to 30s Fahrenheit, often accompanied by snowfall. The area receives an average annual precipitation of around 13 inches, primarily in the form of rain during spring and summer, and snow during winter.
Rifle is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and offers various outdoor recreation opportunities. The area is known for its hydrology constituents, with the Colorado River and the White River flowing nearby. These rivers provide excellent opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and rafting. Moreover, Rifle Gap State Park and Rifle Falls State Park are located in close proximity, offering opportunities for hiking, camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.
Furthermore, the nearby Grand Mesa National Forest offers additional recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, camping, and hunting. The region's diverse landscape, encompassing mountains, forests, and rivers, provides an ideal setting for outdoor enthusiasts to explore and enjoy nature's beauty.
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): 7.5
Rifle receives approximately
559mm of rain per year,
with humidity levels near 58%
and air temperatures averaging around
6°C.
Rifle 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
Colorado Headwaters
Area Rivers
Colorado Headwaters
Snowpack Depths
Colorado Headwaters
Reservoir Storage Capacity
Colorado Headwaters
Groundwater Levels
Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI): 3.5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward Lake | 27 | 10,222 ft | |||
| Bonham Lake City Park | None | 9,861 ft | |||
| Carp Lake | 20 | 10,267 ft | |||
| Jumbo | 26 | 9,791 ft | |||
| Spruce Grove - Mesa | 16 | 9,961 ft | |||
| Collbran - Cottonwood Lake | 56 | 9,946 ft | |||
| Eggleston | 6 | 10,170 ft | |||
| Weir and Johnson | 12 | 10,483 ft | |||
| Twin Lake | 13 | 10,395 ft | |||
| Kiser Creek | 12 | 10,112 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):
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.