Upper White
Watershed Hydrology
The Upper White Watershed (HUC 14050005) spans an area of approximately 1,300 square miles in Colorado, with elevations ranging from 6,000 to over 14,000 feet. The watershed is characterized by a snow-dominated hydrology, with snowpack accumulation in the winter months providing the primary source of surface water during the dry summer months. The watershed contains several reservoirs, including Dillon Reservoir, which supplies water to the Denver metropolitan area. The reservoirs have been found to contain elevated levels of selenium, a water quality concern. Climatic trends in the watershed include increasing temperatures and decreasing snowpack, which could have significant impacts on water supply and ecosystem health. The watershed also experiences occasional extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, which can have significant impacts on the landscape and communities within the watershed.