Watching the weather for Denver Water and beyond

News Article

Watching the weather for Denver Water and beyond

Tracking temps and precipitation for the National Weather Service.

Here at Denver Water, we’re weather watchers. But like anyone, we get excited when someone notices our efforts.

On April 27, the National Weather Service recognized Denver Water for the organization’s 25-year commitment to the NWS’s Cooperative Observer Program, known as COOP, at Denver Water’s Operations Complex near downtown Denver.

Three people hold an award in front of a Denver Water sign — Jennifer Stark and Jim Kalina from the National Weather Service present an award to Denver Water’s Cindy Brady in recognition of Denver Water’s contribution to the Cooperative Observer Program over the past 25 years. Photo credit: Denver Water.

COOP is a nationwide program that gathers daily temperature and precipitation readings reported by organizations and citizens at their locations.

Denver Water has weather stations at 12 of its facilities in the metro area, foothills and mountain locations. Denver Water’s weather station at Cheesman Reservoir dates back to 1902.

“Information from the weather stations is a critical part of our water planning at Denver Water, and we’re happy to be partners with the National Weather Service,” said Cindy Brady, water resource engineer at Denver Water.

Woman looks inside a white box that houses a weather station — Cindy Brady checks the temperature at a weather station located at Denver Water’s Operations Complex. Data collected at the station is sent to the National Weather Service. Photo credit: Denver Water.

There are more than 8,700 COOP weather stations across the country, which are maintained by various organizations and individuals who collect data daily.

A white box on a stand and an American flag are shown near a large reservoir — Denver Water has COOP weather stations at 12 facilities, including this one at Dillon Reservoir in Summit County. Photo credit: Denver Water.

“We rely on our volunteers to collect weather data to understand current conditions as well as to monitor how the climate is changing,” said National Weather Service’s meteorologist in charge of the Denver-Boulder office, Jennifer Stark.

“We can’t do it alone, so we greatly appreciate the work of all of our volunteers.”