Brandon Sanders, new Plant Center director, also spoke to the group
MEEKER | The White River Alliance and Colorado River Watch board held their regular January meeting last Wednesday, with all members present.
The session opened with a treasury report from Lois Williams, who announced the board has $3,093 in funds. This amount will support two scholarships for graduating seniors at Meeker High School and Rangely High School.
Next, Dr. Bob Dorsett presented an update on the 2024 White River water year, which ran from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024. He said river runoff was about average due to typical precipitation, but ongoing drought conditions have dried out soils.
Dorsett highlighted past algae blooms in the river, noting improvements thanks to board efforts.
“It is no longer a problem, at least the last couple of years,” Dorsett said. “I don’t know if it’s been completely resolved, but I think because of this organization, in no insignificant part, we’ve made significant improvements.”
He thanked the group for their contributions to mitigating the issue.
Dorsett also shared river data dating back more than 100 years and discussed climate-related changes, including reduced snowpack and rising temperatures. He reported a 14% drop in the total yearly runoff in 2024 compared to historical averages, amounting to about 70,000 acre-feet.
“Lower peak flows are less effective at scouring algae off the streambed, so algae remains on the substrate from one year to the next,” Dorsett said. “Decreased flow also affects sediment transport and fish habitats.”
He warned that earlier spring runoff and prolonged low flow periods in the summer could lead to algae blooms and fish stress.
Dorsett described 2024 as the warmest year on record, projecting that by 2060 Meeker’s climate could resemble that of Bluff, Utah.
“We’re very likely to see enormous swings in the climate,” he said, urging the community to address methane leaks in the Uinta and Piceance basins and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Brandon Sanders, the new director of the Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center, also addressed the board. He outlined ways the plant center and the board could collaborate together.
“We do a lot of plant materials work, but a lot of times that plant material, whether it’s seed or plug ground, seems to go away from this area,” Sanders said. “So it’s kind of neat to talk to people here in Meeker about some of the things we do and possible opportunities to partner.”
Sanders explained that the plant center is a nonprofit operated by the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, often works with federal and state agencies through contracts. One of its largest partners is the National Park Service, one contract that they have is with Yellowstone National Park.
“We have a contract with Yellowstone,” Sanders said. “They collect seed from the park, ship it to us, and we clean it, plant it, and grow it for a certain number of years. Then the seed is shipped back to them for reclamation projects.”
Sanders noted that the best way to work with the plant center is through grants, with the center serving as a contractor. He invited the community to visit, recommending June for tours to see blooming forbes.
“June would be the best month for tours to people wanting to see the forbes, but August we’re mostly free. There’s a lot more fields of stubble so it’s not quite as cool; but June is when everything is the most showy and the best to come and see,” stated Sanders.
The meeting concluded with plans for a special session later this month to determine the scholarship amounts.