About The Pollen Count
Pollen count for Grand Junction, Colorado, is provided by the Allergy and Asthma Center of Western Colorado, the only board certified allergy and immunology specialists serving the Grand Valley, Delta and Montrose regions.
Weeds are at high levels
August has been mostly dry, resulting in ample opportunity for weed pollen to release and travel in the wind.
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is native to Western Colorado and grows in large numbers on the National Monument, Uncompahgre Plateau and the sides of the Grand Mesa.
Ragweed
Ragweed is one of the most well known weed pollen in the United States. However, the Grand Valley has a surprisingly small amount of ragweed growing here.
Kochia
Kochia is in the chenopod family of weeds, along with Russian Thistle, Lamb's Quarter and other weeds common to the Grand Valley.
Timothy Grass
Timothy grass is the predominant allergen seen in Mesa, Telluride, Aspen, Crested Butte and with people who ranch up on the Mesa, probably starting to grow around 7,000 feet.
Orchard Grass
In lower elevation regions of Western Colorado (<8,000 ft), orchard grass is the predominant wild grass growing and releasing pollen.
Bermuda
Bermuda grass is is prevalent in Grand Junction and Delta, but becomes less common at elevations equivalent to Montrose or higher.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood is one of the top three pollinating trees in the Grand Junction, Montrose, Delta area. It peaks in mid-to-late March and early April, between Elm and Juniper.
Juniper
These shrubs pollinate in early March, about one month earlier than their higher elevation natural Juniper counterparts.