WSP12943

• File Number: 8040.800
• Description: Water Resources for Colorado
• State: CO
• Date: 4/1/2003
• Author: US Dept of Agriculture - Natural Resoruces Conservation Service
• Title: Colorado Basin Outlook Report April 1, 2003
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN
as of April 1, 2003

Mountain Snowpack* (Inches)

~Current -.-Average
___Maximum -+--Mlnimum

18

16

14

c 12

-
c
.
iG 10
~
~
"
w

6

"
.
-
.
~

6

4

2

o
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

*Dased on sdeclcd stations

Precipitation- (Yo of average)

I_Monthly DYear-lo-dale I

140
120
. 100
'"
.
"
.
> 80
<(
-
0
-
c 80
.
u
"
.
l1.
40

Oct Nov Dee Jan Fob Mar Apr May

The Arkansas Basin received a huge amount of snow during March, thanks mostly to a large
stomlthat dropped record amounts of snow on the Colordo Front Range during three days in the
middle of the month. The basin-wide snowpack measurements are 100% of average on April I,
which is 209% of the amount of snow there was last year at this time. The measurements range
from 93% of average in the Upper Arkansas Watershed, to 110% of average in the Purgatoire
Watershed. Precipitation measurements for the month of March were 139% of average, and the
water year total is now 94% of average. There has been about 151 % of the precipitation there was
last water year by this time. Reservoirs in the basin have only 46% of their average storage
amount for the end of March. There is only 60% of the storage there was last year at the end of
March. Streamflow forecasts have improved significantly from last month and are approaching
average volumes on many of the forecast points. They range from 85% of average at the inflow to
Pueblo Reservoir, to 96% of average on the Huerfano River near Redwing.