State wants volunteer snow watchers to aid in ozone efforts

— September 6, 2013

(Press release) The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) is interested in expanding its network of snow observers in the Upper Green River Basin (UGRB) area for the upcoming Winter Ozone Season. WDEQ is looking for volunteers that regularly (every day or every couple of days) visit the same location during the Winter Ozone Season (January – March) and would be interested in measuring and reporting the snow depth in these remote areas. The snow depth reports would be used by WDEQ to more effectively map snow depth conditions in the UGRB, aiding meteorologist in the forecasting of wintertime ozone.

The National Weather Service in Riverton will conduct a free class for those interested in measuring and reporting snowfall. The one-hour long training class will take place at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 19, at Tip Top Search and Rescue, 138 North Bridger Avenue, in Pinedale. Anyone with an interest in reporting snow depth is invited to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Jones at 307-857-3898 ext. 726 or Adam Deppe at 307-777-8754.

For background on efforts to better understand ozone in the Pinedale region, check out these reports:

— UW air quality research goes global
— Emission questions loom large over oil and gas industry