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Precipitation Most of Colorado's March precipitation arrived in the single mid-month blizzard. This storm increased the monthly totals to above average in all basins except the Gunnison and the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, and San Miguel. As expected, the biggest winner was the South Platte Basin, which reported 204% of its average for the month. The Arkansas and Colorado basins followed with 139% and 131 % of average, respectively. For the state, precipitation was 123% of average in March. The storm ~lso improved the water year totals in those favored basins. The South Platte Basin's water year total is now 113% of average. Other basins reporting at least 90% of average for the water year include the Arkansas, Yampa and White, and Colorado. Of the six months that have lapsed in the 2003 water year, only December and January have been well below average, while November was just slightly below average. Statewide water year totals are 94% of average. Reservoir Storage Reservoir storage continues to track at well below average volumes across the state. Last year's extremely low inflows, coupled with heavy summer demands, brought storage volumes to levels that will most likely require several above average runoff years to restore. Unfortunately, even with the improved runoff forecasts, it remains unlikely that significant progress will be made in recovering storage volumes this year. As of April 1, the state's reservoir storage remains at only 57% of average and is only 64% of last year's storage on this date. Only the Gunnison Basin has significantly recovered from last summer's depletions and is now 81 % of average. The state's lowest volumes, as a percent of average, were measured in the Colorado Basin, at only 36% of average. Since last July, when storage volumes bottomed out for the year, the state's deficit has improved by nearly 500,000 acre-feet. However, it would require an increase of nearly three-times that amount to bring storage volumes back to average. Streamflow Streamflow forecasts improved nearly statewide this month. Those locations affected by the blizzard improved the most, with an improvement of about 20% from last month's forecasts. However, even with those large improvements, most locations can continue to expect below average runoff for the summer season. Those basins where the forecasts improved the most include the South Platte tributaries along the Front Range, the entire Arkansas Basin, and the upper reaches of the Colorado Basin. For the most part, streamflow volumes in these basins are expected to be between 90% to 110% of average. Towards the southwest, forecasts drop off significantly and remain well below average. Across the San Juan, Animas, Dolores, San Miguel and Upper Rio Grande basins, forecasts range from only 50% to 70% of average. Water users in those basins will most certainly face water shortages again this year.