SWSIReportMarch2008

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update
• Date: 3/17/2008
• Description: Joint Water Availability & Flood Task Force Meeting Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

YAMPA/WHITE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value for the month was 0.6. Flow at the
gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 135 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 99 cfs. The Natural
Resources Conservation Service reports that March 1
snowpack is 1130/0 of normal. Above average precipitation
was once again reported for the Yampa, White, and North
Platte River basins for the month of February. Precipitation
for the month, as measured at the SNOTEL sites operated by
the NRCS, was reported at approximately 1380/0 of average
for the Yampa/White River basin and 1440/0 of average for the
North Platte River basin. Year-to-date precipitation is
reported at 1150/0 of average for the combined Yampa, White,
and North Platte River basins.
For the individual basins in Division 6, the snowpack
at the end of the month was 1090/0 of average for the North
Platte River basin, 1150/0 of average for the Yampa River
basin, and 970/0 of average for the White River basin.
As a result of continued precipitation in February,
NRCS predicts near average to well 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 1200/0 of average for the North Platte River near
Northgate, 111 % of average for the Yampa River near Maybell,
1260/0 of average for the Little Snake River near Lily, and 1070/0
of average for the White River near Meeker. Forecast volumes
range from 1020/0 of average for the Yampa River at Steamboat
Springs to 1360/0 of average for Elkhead Creek below Maynard
Gulch.
Due to the continued 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 was reported at
approximately 720/0 of capacity at the end of February.
Yamcolo Reservoir storage level increased in February and the
reservoir was at approximately 71 % of capacity at the end of
the month. Elkhead Creek Reservoir level also continued to
increase throughout the month and the reservoir was
reported at approximately 700/0 of its' enlarged capacity at
the end of February. 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.

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8

Mar-08

YAl\lPA-VVHITE BASIN SNSI HISTCRY

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

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O:i Nov

Dee Jan Feb rvlarch

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

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