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