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Water Project Construction Program -Project Data <br />Non-Reimbursable Investment <br />Applicant: David Clow, USGS <br />Project Name: High-Resolution Gridded Sublimation Estimates <br />Project Type: Research <br />County: Grand and Larimer <br />Drainage Basin: Headwaters of South Platte and Colorado basins <br />Water Source: N/A <br />Total Study Cost: $ 100,000 <br />Funding Sources: Construction Fund, USGS Matching Funds. Other funds will be sought <br />by the USGS. <br />Type of Applicant: Government <br />Median Household Income: N/A <br />CWCB Investment: $ 65,000 <br />Background: <br />The USGS Colorado Water Science Center would like to conduct and publish a detailed <br />analysis of snow sublimation across 2 watersheds along the Continental Divide near Estes <br />Park . Sublimation data are collected at few locations in Colorado, yet sublimation can play <br />a large role in loss of snowpack. Streamflow and water supply forecasts use coarse estimates <br />of sublimation and are subject to significant over-prediction in years with dry, warm spring <br />weather. <br />Meteorological stations to accurately measure sublimation are expensive and sparsely <br />located, and the data collected may only be applicable to a limited area. The USGS proposes <br />to install low-cost instrumentation across two watersheds that will also contain a <br />meteorological station. The USGS will study the spatial differences in sublimation across the <br />entire watershed. This information will be used to explore the possibility of improving <br />estimates of sublimation in other basins across Colorado. <br />The USGS will provide staff, equipment and $35,000 in matching funds to this project. <br />