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Precipitation April was a dry month for all but the northwest portion of the state. Below average totals were measured in all basins except the Yampa, White, North Platte, and Colorado basins. For the second consecutive month, the lowest precipitation totals were measured in the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel basins where totals of only 57% of average were reported at SNOTEL sites. The highest basinwide precipitation total was measured in the Yampa and White basins at 137% of average for the month. Statewide, totals were 97% of average in April. For the water year, which began on October 1, 2002, percentage of average range from only 77% in the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel basins, to 109% in the South Platte Basin. The Colorado Basin is the only other basin reporting an above average water year total at 101 % of average. Statewide water year totals remain the same as last month, at 94% of average. Reservoir Storage Reservoir storage continues to show the lingering effect of last year's drought across Colorado. Reservoirs were severely drawn down last summer and remain far from recovery. Statewide, storage volumes dipped to a low point last August at 1.94 million acre-feet below the average mark. Since then, some additional storage progress has been made, but the deficit remains at nearly 1.35 million acre-feet below the average. All basins are reporting well below average volumes, with the lowest percentage reported in the Colorado Basin at only 42%. Volumes in the Arkansas Basin remain nearly as low at only 44% of average for this date. Statewide, storage volumes are 60%.of average and are 70% oflast year's May 1 storage. While it's likely we'll see improvements in storage volumes in the coming months as runoff begins, it remains likely we'll see volumes decline as the late summer demands are met. Streamflow Only minor adjustments were made in streamflow forecasts across Colorado this month. The most notable changes occurred in the basins of southwestern Colorado, where the below average forecasts were reduced even further this month. Now, forecasts across most of these basins range from only 40% to 55% of average. Volumes of less than 70% of average are also prevalent throughout the Gunnison, White, and Rio Grande basins, and volumes of less than 90% of average prevail throughout the Arkansas, upper South Platte, Yampa, and North Platte basins. The only forecasts that approach average extend through the Colorado River Basin into the northern tributaries of the South Platte Basin. Along the Continental Divide in these basins, runoff volumes are forecast to range from 100% to 110% of average. Given these forecasts, there remains little optimism for significant improvement in reservoir storage this year.