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Colorado Water Availability Task Force Summary of January 17, 2006 Meeting The meeting was held at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Those in recorded attendance included: Jack Byers, DWR Veva McCaig, CWCB Mike Gillespie, NRCS Robert Glancy, NOAA Lynee Cavaille, Colo. Natural Areas Program Scott Archer, USDI, BLM Nolan Doesken, CSU-Climate Center Robin Knox, CDOW Mary Halstead, CDOW Andrea Ray, NOAA Jessica Lowrey, NOAA-CU Brad Udall, NOAA-CU Chris Pacheco, NRCS Rob Pearson, Energy Management & Conservation Will Stambaugh, City of Golden Les Major, City of Golden John Gordon, USGS Frank McNulty, CDNR Jim Miller, CDOA Marilyn Gally, DOLA Toks Adeniran, DOLA Barry Cress, DOLA Tom Browning, CWCB Don West, DWR Klaus Wolter, NOAA Kevin Reidy, City of Aurora Rick Marsicek, City of Aurora Jeff Tranel, CSU Kathie Hepp-Lucki, CWCB The meeting was called to order at 2:25 pm on January 17, 2006. Executive Summary A weak La Nina is developing and is expected to continue for 3-6 months. It has influenced dry winter weather for much of southern Colorado and the Front Range. Colorado's Front Range may experience a wet spring, but the southeastern portion of the state will remain dry. Presently reservoir levels are about average statewide. However, several reservoirs in the southern part of the state are low or below average. Overall, Colorado's average statewide snowpack is slightly above average. Snowpack levels in the southern basins are below average, while snowpack levels in the northern basins are well above average. Snowpack levels for November 2005 were average. Levels improved in December 2005. Precipitation for this water year is about average although the Front Range and southwest continue to experience below normal precipitation. Runoff from the South Platte Basin and tributaries of the Colorado Basin is anticipated to be well above average. SWSI values are deceivingly high for the Arkansas Basin. Values should be viewed with caution, because the lower part of the basin is so much dryer in contrast to the upper part of the basin. The weather outlook projects dry conditions on the eastern plains. Colorado has experienced many fast moving storms dropping snow in its northern mountains. But the plains have remained dry, and therefore are under a higher threat from fire danger at the present time.