Monitoring Programs

Through a scientific approach, GCWIN works to monitor environmental health in Grand County. The information we collect is crucial to ensuring that we protect and improve water quality within the headwaters of the Colorado River.

Stream Temperature

Since 2005, GCWIN has monitored Grand County's streams and rivers for temperature. Currently, GCWIN has 55 active monitoring sites spread out across the county.

Lake Clarity/Secchi

Since 2008, GCWIN has managed lake clarity monitoring in Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir. Currently, 7 sites are monitored every week from ice-off to ice-on.

Temperature and Electric Conductivity

Since 2010, GCWIN has collected stream temperature and specific conductivity data at 6 sites at all of the inflows into the Three Lakes system to support water quality modeling efforts by Northern Water.

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Cyanobacteria Monitoring

GCWIN monitors for the presence of toxic blue-green algae at 5 zones across Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Lake Granby, and Willow Creek.