WWA's Nels Bjarke spoke with Rocky Mountain Community Radio about current drought conditions and said hotter temperatures "can lead to further drying of the soils linked with increase of evaporation and transpiration, which have the potential to allow the drought to at least stick around, and potentially amplify it," adding that hydrologists aren’t counting on monsoon rains to bring relief. "In the past several decades, precipitation in June and July haven't been reliable alleviators of our drought," he said. Learn more: aspenpublicradio.org/environment/2025-07-20/drought-conditions-have-primed-western-colorado-for-a-busy-wildfire-season-hurting-air-quality-and-economy Photo credit: Shannon Moore / Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Officer, Central Zone