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COLORADO WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK REPORT APRIL 1, 2002 .' Summary March was another dry month across Colorado, marking the seventh consecutive month of below average snowfall and precipitation for the state. As expected, statewide snowpack percentages declined again, leaving the state with the lowest snowpack percentage in 25 years. Runoff forecasts are extremely low across southern portions of the state. Elsewhere, forecasts improve, but remain well below average. Reservoir storage provides little additional optimism for boosting the low runoff this year. Most of the state's basins are reporting below average reservoir storage. Many of Colorado's water users are faced with one of the most difficult years in recent memory. Judicious use of existing supplies will be critical in minimizing impacts. Of course, a return to more normal climatic conditions can always help ease impacts. Snowpack ,I Colorado's statewide snowpack percentages continued their steady decline during March, The current readings are now only 52% of average, statewide. These readings are only 60% of last year's April I snowpack. Not since the drought year of 1977, when the state had only a 46% of average snowpack, has the statewide conditions been this poor. Only making matters worse is the fact that by this date, nearly 100% of the seasonal accumulation is completed in an average year, leaving little, to no hope for any substantial improvements to the snowpack. Currently, the lowest snowpack percentages occur across southern Colorado. The combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel basins are reporting the lowest readings, at only 34% of average. The Rio Grande Basin, at only 38% of average closely follows these basins. Also, this past month, the Arkansas Basin saw its percentage decrease sharply from last month and is now only 48% of average. Conditions improve towards the north, but remain well below average, The state's best snowpack percentages occur across the Colorado and North Platte basins, both reporting 63% of average readings, This year marks the fifth consecutive year with a below average statewide April I snowpack. Last year's statewide snowpack on this date was 87% of average. All basins are reporting percentages well below those of last year, and range from only 36% of last year in the Rio Grande Basin, to a high of 84% of last year in the Yampa and White basins, During late March, warm temperatures induced snowmelt at a number of SNOTEL sites. Across southern Colorado, a few lower elevation sites have already melted out, with melt even occurring at the higher elevation sites. At these melt rates, many sites will be completely melted out about a month earlier than normal.