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<br />Reservoir Storage <br /> <br />Reservoir storage across Colorado continues to improve from its most recent low point in August, 2002. <br />While storage volumes remain below average in all basins, the current storage volumes are generally <br />higher than last year's. Statewide, storage on January I was 74% of average and is 148% of last year's. <br />Last year's low runoff across southern Colorado has left those basins with the lowest percent of average <br />storage. The Rio Grande Basin is reporting the lowest percentages at only 38% of average. The <br />Arkansas and combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores and San Miguel basins are in only slightly better <br />condition, at 54% and 65% of average, respectively. Current storage is above last year's in all basins <br />except the Rio Grande which is reporting only 64% of last year's volumes. The Colorado Basin is <br />reporting the highest percent of last year's storage, at 222% of those volumes. In order for the state's <br />reservoirs to recover from the current drought conditions, runoff will need to be abundant this year and <br />perhaps even into the next several years. <br /> <br />Streamflow <br /> <br />For the first time since 2001, Colorado begins a new year with near average streamflow forecasts for <br />most of the state. Runoff volumes which range from 90% to 110% of average are forecast throughout <br />most of the Yampa, North Platte, Gunnison, Rio Grande, Arkansas San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San <br />Miguel basins, including the headwaters of the Arkansas River. While most forecasts in the Colorado <br />Basin range from 75% to 90% of average, these conditions remain well within the range for <br />improvement even with just a few good storms. Of most concern for summer water availability are most <br />of the streams in the South Platte Basin and the southern tributaries to the Arkansas River. Runoff <br />forecasts in portions of these basins range from only 50% to 85% of average. The state's lowest <br />forecasts are primarily concentrated in the upper reaches of the South Platte River where most of this <br />winter's storms have missed South Park. Unless the storm track significantly improves in the next few <br />months, water users along the South Platte River will be facing another critically short water year. <br />