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COLORADO WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK REPORT MARCH I, 2000 Summary , Desperately needed moisture added to the state's snowpack during February. Increases in the basin snowpack percentages from last month were measured nearly statewide on March I. The most beneficial storms brought the first significant snowfall of the season to the southern mountains. Snowpack conditions elsewhere continued the three-month trend of approaching near average accumulations. However, even with the additional snowfall, most of the slate can continue to expect a below average runoff season in 2000. Of greatest concern are portions of southern Colorado where runoff volumes of only about half of average are forecast. Excellent reservoir storage will provide some relief to a low runoff year. Snowpack Above average snowfall during February increased the state's snowpack to 80% percent of average on March I. Improvements in snowpack percentages were seen in all major basins except the Arkansas, which remained near lasl month's readings. The additional snowpack helped to increase Ihe seasonal totals to near average across northern Colorado. The highest snowpack readings, all slightly above average. were measured in the North Platte, Yampa and some of the smaller tributaries of Ihe Upper Colorado Basin. Toward the southern regions of the state percenlages decrease quickly. South of a line that closely follows 1-70, all snowpack readings are below average. This includes the Upper South Platte and Arkansas, Ihe Gunnison and San Miguel basins. Further south, snowpack percentages decrease to well below average. Basins affected by some of the lowest snowpack percentages include the Rio Grande, San Juan, Animas, and the soulhern tributaries of the Arkansas. The state's lowest snowpack readings are concentrated in an area that includes the San Juan, Upper Rio Grande, and the tribut3lies of the Rio Grande, which originate along the southern San Juan Mountains. Snowpack readings in this region are consistently well below 50% of average. For this portion of the state, these readings are the lowest percent of average snowpack recorded since the record low snowpack of 1977. In comparing this year's snowpack to last year's on this date. most basins are reporting readings similar to last year. Only the Arkansas, Rio Grande, and the combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel are well below lasl year's snowpack. Stalewide, the current snowpack is 94% of last year's readings. Precipitation Lower elevation precipitation was generally above average across most of the state during February. Northwestern Colorado was able to benefit the most from the February precipitation, where the highest monthly percentages were measured in the Colorado, and the combined Yampa and White basins, at 144% and 133% of average, respectively. Other basins reporting above average monthly totals include the Rio Grande at 117% of average, and the Gunnison at 123% of average. East of the Continental Divide the percenlages decreased to below average. Both the South Platte and Arkansas basins reported below average monthly totals. Allhough February's precipilation was slighlly above average. water year totals for the first five months of the water year remain below average in all basins, and are only 69% of average for the state.