SWSIReportFeb2008

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update
• Date: 2/20/2008
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Meeting Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

YAMPA/WHITE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value for the month was 1.6. Flow at the
gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 111 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 101 cfs.
Above average precipitation was once again reported
for the Yampa, White, and North Platte River basins for the
month of January. Precipitation for the month, as measured
at the SNOTEL sites operated by the NRCS, was reported at
approximately 1330/0 of average for the Yampa/White River
basin and 1190/0 of average for the North Platte River basin.
Year-to-date precipitation is reported at 1100/0 of average for
the combined Yampa, White, and North Platte River basins.
The snow water equivalent (SWE) as of January 31,
2008 for the Yampa and White River basins was 1020/0 of
average and for the Laramie and North Platte River basins
was 101 % if average. For the individual basins in Division 6,
the snowpack at the end of the month was 1030/0 of average
for the North Platte River basin, 101 % of average for the
Yampa River basin, and 1020/0 of average for the White River
basin.
As a result of increased precipitation in December
and January, NRCS predicts average to above-average
runoff in the Yampa, White, and North Platte River basins.
The latest runoff forecasts from the NRCS for the April
through July period are 1160/0 of average for the North Platte
River near Northgate, 1030/0 of average for the Yampa River
near Maybell, 1180/0 of average for the Little Snake River
near Lily, and 1090/0 of average for the White River near
Meeker. Forecast volumes range from 980/0 of average for
the Yampa River at Steamboat Springs to 1190/0 of average
for Elkhead Creek below Maynard Gulch.
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
Fish Creek Reservoir storage level increased slightly
in January and was reported at approximately 810/0 of
capacity at the end of January. Yamcolo Reservoir storage
level also increased in January and the reservoir was at
approximately 650/0 of capacity at the end of the month.
Elkhead Creek Reservoir level continued to increase
throughout the month and the reservoir was at approximately
680/0 of its' enlarged capacity at the end of January. 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.

Public Use Impacts
Many area reservoirs are frozen with good ice-fishing
reported.

Q3 50,000
~
cb
~ 40,000
s~
o
Li 30,000
w
>
i=
:s 20,000
:J
~
:J
o 10,000

8

Feb-08

YAl\lPA-VVHITE BASIN SNSI HISTCRY

I-
W
S

W
::J
....J
<C
> 0
><
w
o
z
- -1

>-
0::
o
-2

-3

Jart-OO Jan-D1 Jart-02 Jan-D3 Jart-04 Jan-D5 Jart-OO Jan-D7 Jart-OO
rvDNTH / YEAR

YAMPA RIVER AT STEAMBOAT, FLOW BY WATER YEAR

60,000

o
O:i Nov

Dee Jan Feb rvlarch

-----8-- WET (1984)

~ DRY (1977) ---fr-- A VG -* 2008