WSP12938

• File Number: 8040.800
• Description: Water Resources for Colorado
• State: CO
• Date: 4/1/2004
• Author: US Dept of Agriculture - Natural Resoruces Conservation Service
• Title: Colorado Basin Outlook Report April 1, 2004
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

YAMPA, \VHITE, NORTH PLATTE AND LARAMIE RIVER BASINS
as of April 1, 2004

M ou ntain Snow pack* (inches)

Precipitation* (% of average)

---*"-Current --'-Average

;___Maximum -+--r,1inimum

I_ tv10nthly E1Year-to-date !

35

5

180

30

160

25
s::
..;-
l:
~ 20
III
.~
::J
C'"
w 15
L-
C)
-
I':S
~ 10

140
Ib
CI 120
I':S
L-
ei
> 100
<(
-
0
- 80
s::
GI
U
L-
Ib 60
a..
40
20

o
Jan Feb Mar Apr ~;:1ay Jun

o .
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

*Based on selected stations

Even these northern basins were not immune to the effect of very warm temperatures and dry
conditions that characterized the month of wlarch. Lack of additional snow and even melting of
the snovvpack has caused measurements to drop to only 69% of average in the Yampa, \Vhite, and
North Platte basins. This is a drop of up to 20% of average at some measuring points, which is
one of the largest drops recorded during Ivlarch. The measurements range from only 60% of
average in the Laramie \Vatershed, to 750/0 in the Little Snake \Vatershed. Precipitation in these
basins during l\larch was only 58% of average, which brought the water year total down to only
80% of average. The two major reservoirs in these basins remain at 110% of average storage
volume for this time ofvear. which is 119% of the storage volume last year at this time.
., , ........,

Streamflow forecasts for the runoff season are lower than last month at all of the forecast points,
and all are well below average. Forecasts range from only 54% of average on Elkhead Creek near
Elkhead, to 70% of average at Little Snake River near Dixon.