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

SAN MIGUEL, DOLORES, ANIMAS, AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASINS
as of January 1,2004

Mountain Snowpack- (Inches)

-M-Current -.r-Average
___Maximum -+--Mlnlmum

45
40
35
.s 30
-
0
. 25
;;;
"'
~
C" 20
w
"
.
-
~ 15
;:
10
5

I
/ ....... 1/
./ V
l/
V
~ ..........
/" '"
? "-
c-- ~

o
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

-Based on seletted stations

160

140
120
.
'"
~ 100
.
>
..
- 80
0
-
0
.
u 60
"
.
..
40
20

o

Precipitation- ('to of average)

'_Monthly DYear.lo-dale I

Oct Nov Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

The snowpack totals for these combined basins are 99% of average as of January I. These totals
are 18% above those measured last year at this time. The highest percentages were measured in
the San Juan Basin, while the lowest were measured in the Dolores Basin. For the first three
months of the 2004 water year, only November's precipitation contributed significantly to the
water year totals. December was somewhat dry across these basins at 93% of average, leaving the
water year totals at 91 % of average. The last two dry years have left the reservoir storage in these
basins at only 65% of average as of January I. However, these volumes remain at 17% above last
year's January I storage. For the six major reservoirs in these basins, storage is down from the
average by more than 130,000 acre-feet. To the relief of water users in these basins, streamflow
forecasts are near to slightly above average for this spring and summer. The best prospects for
runotToccur along the San Juan River, with the inflow into Navajo Reservoir estimated at 114%
of average.