WSP12941

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

ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN
as of January 1, 2004

Mountain Snowpack* (Inches)

----*-Currenl ---"'-Average
____Maximum -+-Minlmum

18
18
14
e 12
-
e
. 10
;;
~
~
.,. 8
w
"
.
-
. 8
;:
4
2

/
./
1/
/' --............
/ /
~ V
.--
V ""
'\

o
Jan

Feb

M..

Ap'

May

.Based on selecled stations

Precipltatlon* (% of average)

[_Monthly DYear-to-dale I

120

.
'" 80
~
.
~
-
0
-
e
.
u
"
. 40
0.
20

Oct Nav Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

The 2004 water year is shaping up to be a tight year for most water users in the Arkansas Basin.
Early winter snowfall has been well below average, and as of January I, is only 69% of average
and only 90% of last year's totals for this date. While below average throughout the basin, the
highest percentages occur along the main stem of the Arkansas Headwaters. Snowpaek readings
above Salida are 76% of average, while along the southern tributary streams readings range from
50% to 70% of average. For the first three months of the 2004 water year, only November's
precipitation was near average. With precipitation during October and December well below
average, water year totals are only 77% of average as of January I. Reservoir storage remains
extremely low in this basin's reservoirs. Data for January I indicates that storage is only 54% of
average, yet is 17% above last year's volumes. Streamflow forecasts for the spring and summer of
2004 range from near average along the Arkansas River Headwaters to well below average on the
southern tributaries.