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be as dryas the preceding winter, many more reservoirs would go dry and, by the summer of 1978, Colorado would be faced with a nearly insurmountable water shortage. (Figure 1-2 illustrates the effects of drought on streamflow.) Norma lly, October is a trans it ion month between summer and wi nter. Weather patterns duri ng the month are often somewhat errat i c. However, the weather during October 1977 foreshadowed the dominant patterns of the 1977-78 winter season: The mountains and western portions of the State received above average precipitation, while the area east of the Continental Divide received below average precipitation--an interesting contrast to the precipitation trends which characterized the preceding year. By March 1978, measurements showed that mountainous Western Slope areas had received three to four times as much snow as they had for the October through March period of 1977. Many Western Slope towns recorded one of the wettest winters ever during the 1977-78 season. Yet the eastern and south central por- tions of the State remained extremely dry throughout the winter season with precipitation levels at about 60 percent of normal. These dry areas received extremely heavy rains during the month of May, however, which brought their cumulative yearly precipitation measurements to normal and above normal levels by the beginning of June. So, the combination of the excellent mountain snowpack and heavy spring rains distinctly brightened the Colorado weather ~nd water picture for the summer of 1978. Spring streamflow levels were high, indicating that reservoir storage levels would return to normal. Except for areas centered in certain centra 1 and southeastern port ions of the State, it appeared that drought recovery would not be impeded by the weather or a shortage of water. (Appendix A, pages 96 , contains maps showing Statewide precipitation levels at various stages of the drought, January 1977 through July 1978.) 1.2 IMP ACT S 1.2.1 SKI INDUSTRY The ski industry in Colorado was the first and most blatantly affected sector of the economy to be damaged by the reduced snowf a 11 of the 1976-77 winter season. An industrywide survey showed that lift ticket sales declined by 40 percent (a decline of 2.3 million when compared to the previous season). The reduction in skier visits resulted in an estimated revenue loss to the ski resort communities of $78.6 million. The heaviest declines occurred in the more remote resort areas. The four Aspen areas, Crested Butte, and Steamboat all showed 60 percent declines in lift ticket sales. In the more remote southwest corner of the State where snow was even more scarce than in other regions, the Purgatory and Telluride ski areas showed 90 percent declines in sales and were closed for most of the season. Those ski areas which were close to Denver, owned snowmaking equipment, or were located at high elevations fared somewhat better than other areas but nevertheless showed substallt i a ~ dec 1 i nes in 1 ift ticket sales. 16