The Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) faces substantial water availability limitations. Although most streamflow originates as snowmelt, the partitioning of snowmelt between surface runoff and groundwater recharge and subsequent groundwater discharge to streams is highly uncertain. On average, over half of the streamflow in the UCRB is estimated to originate from groundwater discharge to streams, highlighting the importance of baseflow in sustaining surface water. However, the historical pattern

Baseflow and snowmelt sustained streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1986-2020
Miller, Olivia; Miller, Matthew P.; Longley, Patrick; Schmadel, Noah; Wise, Daniel; McDonnell, Morgan; Alder, Jay
