Colorado’s dry winter is now raising concerns about what summer recreation could look like, but rafting outfitters said the outlook isn’t as bleak as it might seem. At Dillon Reservoir, low snowpack paints a concerning picture, with statewide levels dipping to record lows. But according to AVA Rafting and Ziplining owner Duke Bradford, snowpack is only part of the equation. Bradford said rafting conditions depend heavily on spring and summer rain, especially on free-flowing rivers like Clear Creek near Idaho Springs. He explained that water levels, measured in cubic feet per second (cfs), could rise dramatically overnight with the right storm.

Other water recreation news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Water-based recreation gives nearly $12 billion boost to Arizona economy, new report says
• Jefferson Public Radio (Ashland, Ore.): Why Dunsmuir, California, claims to have the best water on earth