Gunnison Basin: An Epicenter for Rural Climate Action and Innovation
Two years after the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance (COFFA) sounded the alarm with its "Gunnison Basin: Ground Zero in the Climate Emergency" report, the urgency for climate action has only intensified.
But it's not only bad news. Across the Gunnison Basin, as in many rural places across the southwest, innovative solutions are taking root, offering a roadmap for other communities facing similar challenges.
Since our initial report, the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance has continued tracking how climate change affects our region. Our 2025 update summarizes some of this new information and other developments over the past two years.
Climate Change: An Escalating Emergency
Our 2023 report highlighted rising greenhouse gas concentrations, climbing temperatures, and intensifying drought as critical indicators of a climate emergency in the Gunnison River Basin of western Colorado. Recent data continues to validate these concerns.
While Colorado experienced cooler, wetter periods, global temperatures soared to record highs in 2024, underscoring the relentless warming trend. Projections from the 2024 Colorado Climate Assessment Report paint a concerning picture: within 26 years, the region's "normal weather" could mirror the extreme heat waves of recent years.
Shifting precipitation patterns adds another layer of complexity. Although 2023 brought above-average snowpack and the summer of 2024 was wet, these temporary respites are insufficient to counteract long-term drought conditions. The Colorado River system remains strained, with key reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead still critically low. Climate models predict reduced streamflows and earlier runoff peaks, signaling a future where water scarcity becomes an even more significant concern.
These changes translate to tangible impacts: increased spring flooding during rapid snowmelt, intense monsoonal rains, and the looming threat of prolonged drought. The update further underscores that occasional wet years cannot undo decades of aridification.
Gunnison Basin: A Hotbed of Climate Solutions
Despite the challenges, the Gunnison Basin is emerging as an epicenter for rural climate action, leading with solutions in three key areas: rural renewables, land use, and climate-smart agriculture. Our 2025 update showcases a few examples of progress in our region.
Renewable Energy on the Rise: Increased funding through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has spurred the growth of local renewable energy projects. A prime example is the "Mirasol" agrivoltaic community-solar project at Thistle Whistle Farm in Delta County. This innovative project will generate clean energy for local farms and households and study agricultural adaptations under solar panels, potentially mitigating the impacts of a warming climate.
Conserving and Restoring Landscapes: Recognizing the vital role of natural ecosystems, conservation and restoration efforts are gaining momentum. The Upper Gunnison Basin Wet Meadows Restoration Project utilizes low-tech rock structures to combat erosion and protect critical meadow habitats. Along the Uncompahgre River, upgraded irrigation infrastructure and enhanced aquatic habitats promise to boost watershed resilience. Conservation of quality habitat and public lands is another tool in centering landscape restoration and protection as an essential nature-based climate mitigation and adaptation strategy.
Image: An Upper Gunnison Basin Wet Meadows Restoration Project Site. Source: Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District
Transforming Agricultural Practices: Efforts are underway to promote climate-smart agricultural practices that enhance soil health, reduce emissions, and improve drought resilience. The USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) provides financial incentives for producers to adopt cover cropping and soil health crop rotation. Furthermore, the USDA is actively monitoring soil carbon on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres to quantify the climate benefits of these initiatives.
Policy and the Path Forward
The future of these climate initiatives hinges on supportive policies. Uncertainties surrounding federal programs necessitate continued advocacy for policies prioritizing local climate action. The work of the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance will emphasize the importance of community-rooted solutions that meet landscape-level conservation goals, foster energy security, and support small-acreage agricultural producers in adopting regenerative practices.
A Call to Action
The Gunnison Basin's story is one of both challenge and opportunity. While the impacts of climate change are undeniable, the region's proactive approach offers a beacon of hope. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and advocating for supportive policies, the Gunnison Basin can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future, proving that strategic and community-rooted local action can make a real difference even in the face of a global crisis and federal inattention.
