Colorado Open Soil Moisture Monitoring Network
Connecting soil moisture data to strengthen drought resilience, water management, wildfire preparedness, and flood prediction.
Soil moisture is one of Colorado’s most important water reservoirs, yet today’s monitoring networks fall short in accurately quantifying this resource. We’re expanding statewide monitoring efforts and integrating existing networks with new sources of data through Quench — an open platform that brings soil moisture data together in one place.
Soil is a critical water reservoir.
Introducing
Quench
The Quench Open Knowledge Platform brings data collected from in-situ soil moisture sensing stations across a range of monitoring networks into one easy-to-use platform. Users can view current conditions, compare trends across regions, and access satellite-derived soil moisture data.
Quench is developed by and hosted in partnership with collaborators from the CSU Department of Computer Science Center for Exascale Spatial Data Analytics and Computing, working closely with IN-RICHES.
The Challenge.
Soil moisture shapes Colorado’s water, land, and agricultural systems. It drives crop and forage production, shapes runoff and streamflow, and determines drought intensity and duration. It’s also essential to predicting and mitigating wildfire risk—a reality Coloradans understand all too well.
Yet despite its importance, Colorado still lacks reliable, accessible soil moisture information, particularly across working lands. Existing data are scattered across multiple networks, many regions have little or no sensor coverage, and differences in equipment and reporting make comparisons difficult. These gaps limit the ability of farmers, drought forecasters, fire managers, and other decision-makers to access the information they need to steward water resources and respond proactively to risk.
Our approach.
Soil moisture is one of Colorado’s most important—but least visible—water resources. Until recently, data from different networks were scattered, hard to compare, and missing entirely from many regions.
We are addressing this challenge using a two-part strategy:
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Expanding CO's Soil Moisture Monitoring Capabilities and Access
We are expanding monitoring access and coverage by partnering with CoAgMET, RAWS, SNOTEL, iRON, Y-BASIN, the State Land Board, and producers. New and upgraded stations fill critical gaps across rangelands, croplands, forests, and headwaters.
This expanded infrastructure will deliver more accurate, consistent data to support better decision-making, forecasting, and management—and strengthen Colorado’s long-term capacity for innovation.
Click the button below to view the expanded network.
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Introducing Quench - An Open Knowledge Platform
Quench combines data from new and existing monitoring stations across partner networks into one easy-to-use platform. Users can view current conditions and compare trends across regions.
Quench is developed by and hosted in partnership with the CSU Department of Computer Science, working closely with IN-RICHES.
As new monitoring sites come online, Quench will become more powerful—and as Quench reveals remaining gaps, it will guide the next stage of statewide infrastructure expansion.
Our mission.
The Colorado Open Soil Moisture Monitoring Network is pioneering a comprehensive statewide system that delivers data and tools for fostering a water-resilient future. We are expanding on-the-ground sensing capabilities across the state and unifying existing monitoring efforts through Quench—a single, accessible platform that brings Colorado’s soil moisture data together for the first time.
Since receiving initial funding in 2023, we have installed 50 new monitoring sites, increasing Colorado’s monitoring capacity by 50%. A new Colorado Water Plan Grant, supported by the Colorado River District and Conscience Bay Research, will enable us to add 15 more sites and deliver new analytical features within Quench.
Together, this growing network and shared platform will give people on the front lines of land, water, and wildfire management clearer, more consistent, and more reliable soil moisture information to guide drought response, land management, wildfire preparedness, and long-term water planning.
Check out our progress.
Click through the gallery below to see the weather stations and soil moisture monitoring sites integrated in the network.
These monitoring sites offer a comprehensive view of soil moisture across the state, yielding valuable insights into water supply, drought conditions, and wildfire risk.
We welcome partners interested in helping expand soil moisture monitoring across Colorado. Whether you want to host a station, connect an existing network, or support statewide data access, we’d love to talk.
How you can contribute:
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Host a soil moisture station on your land
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Connect your existing soil moisture or weather network to Quench
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Collaborate on regional monitoring initiatives
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Support expansion of Colorado’s long-term soil moisture infrastructure
Contact: Helen.Silver@colostate.edu
Together, we can ensure Colorado’s communities have the soil moisture information they need to plan, respond, and thrive.
Get Involved.
We appreciate financial support from:
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plus a Congressionally Directed Spending Request.