Colorado Open Soil Moisture Monitoring Network
Bolstering drought resilience across Colorado through improved soil moisture prediction, management, and knowledge sharing
Soil is a critical water reservoir.
Existing monitoring networks are failing to quantify the status of this resource. We aim to change that.
Our mission
We are filling critical data gaps in Colorado’s water supply and drought risk forecasting by significantly expanding the state's soil moisture monitoring network. This initiative will strengthen the state’s ability to manage climate risks, protect water resources, and support agricultural sustainability.
Our work
In collaboration with the Colorado Climate Center, federal and state agencies, researchers, producers and community members, we are increasing the state's monitoring capacity by 50% in 2025 to 150 sites statewide. Land uses and ecosystems to be monitored include:
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Cropland (irrigated and dryland)
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Rangeland
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Mid-elevation forests
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Alpine and subalpine
Our impact
Phase 1: Over the course of 2025, we engaged over 70 stakeholders, including federal and state agencies and policymakers, researchers, producers, and other community members to install 50 sites at CoAgMET and United States Forest Service Remote Automated Weather Stations.
Phase 2: We are identifying key areas for ongoing monitoring expansion. Additionally, in collaboration with CSU's Department of Computer Science, we are developing an AI-enabled, real-time knowledge platform that integrates existing and new monitoring networks, providing essential data for drought prediction, wildfire management, and agricultural decision-making.
Ongoing work
Researchers Sangmi Pallickara and Shrideep Pallickara are developing an AI-enabled, real-time knowledge platform to improve accessibility of soil moisture monitoring data. The Quench platform will be shared on this website in the winter of 2026.
Click through the gallery below to see the weather stations and soil moisture monitoring sites integrated in the network.
Together with the soil moisture monitoring network established through the Colorado Soil Health Program, these sites will offer a comprehensive view of this critical indicator across the state, yielding valuable insights into water supply, drought conditions, and wildfire risk
Interested in starting your own soil moisture monitoring mesonet ? We're sharing our resources to help you get started.
Establishing and sustaining soil moisture monitoring networks requires thoughtful planning for both initial setup and long-term operations. To support entities interested in developing or maintaining networks, we have developed a Template for Estimating Mesonet Costs, covering both start-up and operation and maintenance (O&M) phases. We hope this resource helps organizations, agencies, and research teams plan and budget for network costs—including equipment, installation, maintenance, and data management. It is designed to be useful for both new and existing networks seeking to estimate or refine ongoing O&M expenses.
Please cite when using: O’Banion, I., & Integrated Rocky Mountain Region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils at Colorado State University Agricultural Experiment Station. (2025).
This project is supported by a network of key collaborators:
We appreciate financial support from:
plus Directed Congressional Funding from Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet.
Stay Updated
Reach out to learn more or to discuss installation of soil moisture monitoring infrastructure in your area.