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COLORADO WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK REPORT FEBRUARY 1,2004 Summary January was a dry month across most of Colorado. The state's snowpack percentages decreased from the January 1 readings in most river basins. Only the southwestern mountains have above average snowpack accumulations at this point in the winter season. Well below average snowpack totals are common east of the Continental Divide, increasing concerns for water supply shortages during the summer of 2004. Reservoir storage remains generally below average, yet is significantly better than a year ago. With only 40% of the winter snowpack accumulation season remaining, water users nearly statewide are dependent on a wet spring to achieve near average summer runoff. Snowpack The snowfall highlight for January is confined to a single major stonn event, which brought snow to the entire state during the first few days of the month. This stonn brought the greatest accumulations to the southwestern mountains where several feet of new snow accumulated. Although this stonn was beneficial to the entire state, it was followed by an extended dry period, lasting several weeks in some locations, with no significant snowfall. As this dry period lingered on, snowpack percentages steadily decreased. While the last week of January brought an end to the dryness, snowpack percentages reflect an overall decrease for the month. By February 1, the statewide snowpack had dipped to 88% of average, down from the 92% of average measured on January 1. Only Colorado's southwestern basins, which benefited from the early January stonn, can boast of an above average snowpack. Basinwide snowpack percentages in the Gunnison, Rio Grande and combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel basins range from 101% to 106% of average. Colorado's lowest snowpack readings were measured in the South Platte and Arkansas basins which are consistently below average. With snowpack readings of only 65% of average in the South Platte Basin, this is the fourth consecutive year with February 1 snowpack readings at or below this percentage. For the state, 2004 marks the seventh consecutive year of below average snowpack accumulations on February 1. Precipitation Precipitation totals for January at Colorado SNOTEL sites were below average in all basins except the Rio Grande and combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel. These basins managed to receive slightly above average totals for the month, with most of that moisture falling during the early- January stann. The lowest monthly totals were measured in the Yampa and White basins at only 56% of average. Totals were only slightly better (71 % of average), in both the Colorado and South Platte basins. Statewide, precipitation for the month of January was only 80% of average. For the 2004 water year, which began on October 1, 2003, totals are below average statewide, ranging from 71 % of average in the South Platte Basin, to 98% of average in the Rio Grande Basin. Statewide water year totals are only 87% of average. In tenns of inches, this deficit equals an average of about 1.6 inches of precipitation. In order to overcome this deficit by the critical April 1 date, precipitation would have to be about 125% of average for the next two months.