WSP09347

• File Number: 8040.970
• Description: Basin Outlook Reports
• State: CO
• Date: 1/1/2002
• Author: USDOA
• Title: Colorado Basin Outlook Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

YAMPA, WHITE, NORTH PLATIE AND LARAMIE RIVER BASINS
as of March 1, 2002

Mountain Snow pack" (Inches)

Precipitation" (% of average)

.'

-*-Current .........Average
___Maximum -+-Minimum

,_Monthly I!IYear-to-datel

5

80
70
60
..
CIl
I! 50
..
>
01(
- 40
0
-
c
..
l:! 30
..
l1.
20
10
0
Oct Nov Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

35

30

25

.E

.;
c
~ 20
>
'Ei
IT
W 15
..
..
-
..
~ 10

o
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

.Based on selected stations

.)

For the second month in a row, these basins have received more snow accumulation then any of
the other basins in Colorado. But despite the promising snowfall, snowpack measurements remain
significantly below average on March I. The North Platte Basin is only at 62% of average, while
the Yampa and White basins combined are only at 64% of average. Both basins have only 79% of
the amount of snow accumulation there was last year at this time. Snow accumulation ranges
from 54% of average in the Laramie Watershed, to 66% of average in the Elk River Watershed.
Precipitation in these basins during February was the best monthly accumulation since November,
at 7 I % of average. The water year total is only 70% of average. The combined storage in the two
major reservoirs in these basins remain at 104% of average volume for this time of year, which
about the same amount of storage volume there was last year at this time. Stream forecasts are
similar to last month, ranging from only 49% of average on the North Platte River near Northgate,
to 71 % of average at Elkhead Creek near Maynard Gulch.