Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Bill to Modernize Snowpack Measurement Technology Passes House
Durango, Colorado — A significant step toward improving water management in the Western United States was taken this week as Rep. Jeff Hurd’s bill aimed at updating snowpack measurement technology passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. The legislation, known as the Snowpack Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act, seeks to equip water managers with modern tools to more accurately measure and predict the snowpack—the critical source of water in Colorado and other Western states.
Snowpack, the accumulation of snow in mountainous regions, holds vast quantities of water that sustain agriculture, recreation, municipal needs, and natural ecosystems throughout the year. Accurate measurement of snowpack levels is vital for effective water forecasting, drought planning, reservoir management, and wildfire risk assessment.
Updating Aging Technology
Since the inception of the first Snotel (Snow Telemetry) site in 1977, the technology has revolutionized snow measurement by recording hourly data on snow depth, snow water equivalent, precipitation, air temperature, soil moisture, and soil temperature. This data has been indispensable for water managers who depend on it to make informed decisions. However, the technology is now several decades old.
Rep. Hurd emphasized the need to integrate cutting-edge advances into traditional systems. “This bill provides the funding and authority needed for these technologies to be integrated into operational forecasting,” Hurd said in a statement to The Durango Herald. “This is about bringing modern science into Western water management and making sure Colorado’s rural communities are not left behind because Washington has been slow to update its tools.”
The bill authorizes federal agencies to deploy advanced technologies such as LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and satellite imagery, which can provide real-time, three-dimensional modeling of snowpack over broad areas. These enhancements will supplement existing Snotel data, offering water managers a more comprehensive and precise understanding of mountain snowpack conditions.
Benefits to Colorado Communities
With this enhanced data capability, water managers in communities across Colorado—including Dolores County, the farmers along the Uncompahgre River, and municipal systems throughout the San Juan Basin—will have access to more reliable information. This will enable better-informed decisions about irrigation, reservoir storage, and drought mitigation, ultimately supporting the stability and sustainability of vital water resources.
“Snowpack is the lifeblood of the West,” Rep. Hurd noted. “When the data is wrong, everything downstream suffers. Ranchers misjudge irrigation, towns struggle with storage decisions, and wildfire risk becomes harder to manage.”
Next Steps for the Legislation
Following its passage in the House with bipartisan support, the bill now moves to the Senate for approval. If it clears both chambers of Congress and receives the president’s signature, it will become law, officially authorizing the modernization of snowpack measurement infrastructure and forecasting methods.
Rep. Hurd expressed optimism that the bill will be embraced by lawmakers nationwide, highlighting the critical importance of water resources to the Western United States. “Water is a critical resource, and this legislation is a no-brainer for Washington lawmakers to support,” he said.
The advancements envisioned by this legislation promise to provide more accurate, timely, and comprehensive snowpack data—strengthening Colorado’s capacity to manage its water resources amid increasing challenges posed by climate variability and growing demand.
For further updates on this story and more local news, stay tuned to The Durango Herald.
Contact: sedmondson@durangoherald.com
