Trees keep a record of the Crystal River. Researchers say that story could help protect the river for future generations
Tree rings can tell a story. Wide bands signal a wet period, while narrow ones show a drought. Whole ecosystems can be encoded in trees. In Western Colorado, scientists are examining trees to find out more about the environment’s story in an effort to protect the river they stand along. … The Crystal River is one of the few rivers in Colorado that doesn’t have any major dams; large stretches of it are still pristine. … At the heart of what Cooper, Brown and Merritt are trying to do with this study is establish the relationship between the trees and the Crystal’s natural hydrologic rhythm, which wouldn’t exist if it were dammed or diverted.
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