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

SAN MIGUEL, DOLORES, ANIl\tlAS, AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASINS
as of April 1, 2004

Mountain Snowpack* (inches)

Precipitation* (% of average)

--*-Current --.-.Average

i___t,,1aximum --+-fvHnimum !
- -

i_Monthly ElYear-to-date I

45

5

160

10

140
120
G)
tD
E 100
CI)
>
<(
- 80
0
-
c
CI)
() 60
...
CI)
D..
40
20

40

35

c 30

...;
c
G)
iii 25
.::
::I
S" 20
...
I:)
-
IU 15
3:

o

o
Jan Feb t,,1ar Apr tv1ay Jun

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

"'Based on selected stations

Extremely dry and warnl conditions during "ylarch have caused the snowpack to start melting
nearly a full month ahead of normal, and has driven the measurements from 5% above average on
~larch 1, to 30% below average on April 1. This is the largest drop in percent of average
measurements in the state, and one of the largest ~larch decreases ever recorded in these basins.
lVleasurements range from only 56% of average in the Dolores Basin, to 89% of average in the
San Juan Basin. Precipitation during :Nlarch was only 31 % of the average, and the water year
total is now 87% of average. Fortunately, the reservoirs have been able to benefit modestly from
the early sno\\tmelt in the form of runoff, and the combined storage has gone from only 67% of
average on lVlarch 1, to 75% of average on April 1. Unfortunately, all of the forecast points have
been significantly lowered relative to last month's forecast. They are all below average, and range
from only 50% of average on the ivlancos River near ivIancos, to 81 % of average on the Navajo
River at 050 Diversion.