Medano Creek May Be Dry

Great Sand Dunes National Park staff say measurements from the Medano Pass snow sensor were far below normal in mid‑March, and the park’s public information officer, Sierra Willoughby, wrote that those readings make it unlikely Medano Creek will reach the main dunes parking lot this spring and early summer. (denvergazette.com) The practical result is that the shallow, wave‑filled channel that people walk and float in during late spring is unlikely to form at the usual viewing area, so the sandy “beach” and rhythmic waves commonly seen in late May may not appear this season. (nps.gov) Those snow measurements come from SNOTEL sites — automated mountain sensors that record snow water equivalent, which is the amount of liquid water contained in the snowpack and the key source of spring runoff for Medano Creek — and the Medano Pass SNOTEL readings were running at only a few percent of the median for mid‑March. (wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov 1) (wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov 2) Medano Creek’s famous wave pulses form only when three conditions align: enough runoff from mountain snowmelt, a steep enough slope so water moves quickly, and a smooth, mobile sandbed that lets the flow organize into rhythmic surges; with very low snowpack there isn’t the water volume needed to generate those surges. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Park staff and local reports note the current dryness resembles past low‑flow years (including 2018), and the National Park Service continues to post daily creek conditions and forecasts on its Medano Creek page so managers and the public can watch for any late snow or heavy storms that might temporarily restore flow. (denvergazette.com) (nps.gov) (cpr.org)