It's official – Medano Creek season has arrived.
As of an April 21 update from Great Sand Dunes National Park, Medano Creek – known for its spring appearance as it cuts through the sandy destination – has reached the Dunes Parking Lot with a "shallow, gentle flow."
Park officials describe its current flow as following "small braided channels," with a width of about 10 to 20 feet and a depth of about one inch.
Current conditions at Medano Creek, released in April 21 report. Photo: National Park Service.
Flow is currently at about 8 cubic feet per second, which is lower than the norm for this time of the year of about 9.5 cubic feet per second. It's also worth noting that this is still quite a bit off of the typical peak flow that tends to be reached in late May or early June of 40 cubic feet per second. Flow then depletes after that, with the creek disappearing entirely in a matter of weeks.
The park reports that snowpack above the dunes is at about 70 percent of what's normal for this time of the year, so it may be a below average season for Medano Creek. That said, additional snow in the mountains throughout the rest of the month could change that.
Learn more about Medano Creek here.
(1) comment
Barely.
It will be crowded enough without the hype.
Thankfully, it is our backyard.
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