Colorado Rancher Scott Snyder Hauls Water Amid Record Snow Drought

Rancher Scott Snyder of Mex and Sons Ranch near Montrose, Colorado, is spending days hauling water for his herd after the Upper Colorado River Basin recorded its worst snowpack on record. A new study says human‑caused climate change made the snow drought about 14 times more likely. Snyder said, “It’s just so much work. I hate dropping any of it,” after eight trips in three trucks over nine hours delivered enough water for roughly 800 cow‑calf pairs.

Facing minimal snow and a weak monsoon, Snyder and his brother Monte have reduced herd size, bought hay, moved cattle farther to graze and rely on a solar‑powered well. He now refills a 6,500‑gallon tanker – sometimes alongside a 3,000‑gallon tank – to keep the animals hydrated. “If Mother Nature doesn’t want to help out here, we’re probably in a lot of trouble,” Snyder warned.

The situation highlights how climate‑driven water scarcity is reshaping ranching practices across the U.S. Rockies.