SWSIReportJan2008

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update
• Date: 1/1/2008
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

YAMPAIWHITE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value for the month was -0.1 Flow at the
gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 112 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 107 cfs.
Following a very dry November, precipitation
increased dramatically in December and above average
precipitation was reported for the Yampa, White, and North
Platte River basins. Precipitation for the month, as measured
at the SNOTEL sites operated by the NRCS, was reported at
approximately 136% of average for the Yampa/White River
basin and 131 % of average for the North Platte River basin.
The snow water equivalent (SWE) as of January 1 for
the Yampa and White River basins was 90% of average and
for the Laramie and North Platte River basins was 91 % of
average. For the individual basins in Division 6, the
snowpack at the end of the month was 91 % of average for
the North Platte River basin, 92% of average for the Yampa
River basin, and 83% of average for the White River basin.
As a result of the increased precipitation, NRCS
predicts near normal streamflows in much of the Yampa,
White, and North Platte River basins. The latest runoff
forecasts from the NRCS for the April through July period are
88% of average for the North Platte River at Northgate, 95%
of average for the Yampa River near Maybell, 99% of
average for the Little Snake River near Lily, and 91 % of
average for the White River near Meeker.
Due to the cold night temperatures, many of the
Division 6 stream gages are either closed for the winter
season or currently ice-affected.

Outlook
The January temperature forecast for the area, based
on NOAA data, is for above normal temperature for the
month. The precipitation forecast is for an equal chance of
above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation.
Fish Creek Reservoir storage level remained about the
same as last month and was reported at approximately 78%
of capacity at the end of the December. Yamcolo Reservoir
storage level increased in December and the reservoir was at
approximately 60% of capacity at the end of the month.
Elkhead Creek Reservoir level also increased slightly during
the month and the reservoir was at approximately 67% of its'
enlarged capacity at the end of December. Water stored in
Fish Creek Reservoir is used primarily for municipal
purposes, Yamcolo Reservoir for irrigation purposes, and
Elkhead Creek Reservoir for municipal, industrial, and
recreation purposes, as well as fish recovery releases.

Administrative/Manaqement Concerns
Many area reservoirs are frozen with good ice-fishing
reported.

~

w
:::
<{
> 0
x
w
o
Z
-.1
>-
0::
o
.2

8

Jan-08

YAlVPA-w-tlE ~N So/lS HSTCRY

.3

J<n-OO Jen-01 Jan-02 Jan-CO J<n-04 Jan-05 Jan-OO Jan-07 Jcn-08
M:N1H/\S'R

YAMPA RIVER AT STEAMBOAT, FLOW BY WATER YEAR

60, CXXJ

50, CXXJ

Q)
.&
'"
~ 4O.CXXJ
5
o
Li 30,0:::0
w
>
>=
:s 20, CXXJ
::J
::;;
::J
U
10,CXXJ

o
ill

NCN

cec

Jan

Feb

M3rch

--8--V\ET (1004)

-+- DRY (1977)

~AVG

""* 2008