Question 1
How many forested acres in Colorado have been impacted by beetle outbreaks over the last two decades?

Answer 1
“Historically severe and widespread mountain pine beetle and spruce beetle outbreaks have caused tree mortality across five million forested acres in Colorado over the last two decades”

Source: Effects of Forest Disturbance on Streamflow in Colorado, Colorado Water, January 2020
Authors: Abby Eurich, Paul Evangelista, Stephanie Kampf, Ecosystem, Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University; Tony Vorster, Brian Woodward, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University; John Hammond, United States Geological Survey

Question 2
In Nicaragua, the “country of lakes and volcanoes,” what percentage of the population lacks access to “improved” or piped water sources?

Answer 2
“Nicaragua has abundant surface and underground freshwater, but over 30% of the population lacks access to “improved” or piped water sources. Moreover, many water sources suffer from contamination. This results from industrial processes, domestic uses, and natural occurrences of toxins like arsenic. Extreme storms and flooding also compromise water quality. Lastly, situated in one of the regions most vulnerable to global climate change, Nicaragua experiences climatic variation that is worsening its regular bouts of severe drought. All of this means that access to clean water for essential daily uses can be elusive.”

Source: Water Equity and the Pursuit of Justice, Colorado Water, January/February 2019
Authors: Sarah Romano, Political Science and Global Studies, Lesley University

Question 3
What are extreme cities?

Answer 3
“Extreme cities are urban environments that exhibit stark economic and environmental inequality. Access to clean water is often a challenge in these places, as are the threats of flooding and drought. The Secondary Cities Initiative works to better understand extreme cities and uses open-source geospatial technologies to collect data on these unique environments…”

Source: Mapping Extreme Cities The Quest for Effective Water Data, Colorado Water, March/April 2019
Authors: Melinda Laituri, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and Geospatial Centroid, Colorado State University

Question 4
What is an atmospheric river?

Answer 4
“The American Meteorological Society Glossary defines an atmospheric river as “a long, narrow, and transient corridor of strong horizontal water vapor transport.” It goes on to explain that these rivers are responsible for large precipitation events when forced over mountain barriers like the Colorado Rockies.”
[2018] was both the hottest and driest water year on record for Colorado west of the Continental Divide. 2019 on the other hand, was the wettest cold season in western Colorado since 1980.”

Source: 2019 A Snow Year to Remember for Western Colorado, Colorado Water, August 2019
Authors: Peter E. Goble and Russ S. Schumacher Colorado Climate Center, Colorado State University