WSP12944

• File Number: 8040.800
• Description: Water Resources for Colorado
• State: CO
• Date: 3/1/2003
• Author: US Dept of Agriculture - Natural Resoruces Conservation Service
• Title: Colorado Basin Outlook Report March 1, 2003
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN
as of March I, 2003

Mountain Snow pack- (Inches)

~CUrrent -.-Average
_____Maximum --+-Minimum

18
16
14
0 12
-
0
~ 10
.
>
"5
0- 8
w
"
.
-
~ 6
4
2
0

/
/
[7
/ .........
./
- //
.- /
~ "'"

Jan

Feb

Ma,

Ap'

May

-Based on selected slatioll5

Precipitation- (% of average)

I_Monthly DYear-lo.dale I

-
o

140

120

CD 100
0>
.
"
.
>
'"

-
o
.
u
"
.
0.

40

20

O.
Oct Nov Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Thc Arkansas Basin rcccivcd cnough ncw snowfall during Fcbruary to boost thc snowpack
mcasurcmcnts from 68% ofaveragc last month, to 83% ofavcragc on March I. Ifthc same
amount of snow falls during March as did in Fcbruary the snow mcasuremcnts would bc about
avcragc by April I. lllC mcasurcmcnts arc variablc throughout the basin ranging from only 76%
of avcragc in the Cucharas and lIucrfano watcrshcds, to 93% of avcragc in the Purgatoire
Watcrshcd. Prccipitation mcasurcmcnts for thc month of Fcbruary wcrc 139% of avcragc, and
wcrc Ihc first monthly accumuiations to bc above average this water year. The water year total is
now 84% ofaveragc. Rcservoirs in the basin have only 46% of their avcrage storagc amount for
the end of February. Therc is only 59% of the storagc there was last year at the cnd of February.
Strcamflow forecasts are much highcr than last month, but remain much below average at all of
the forecasted points. They range from only 64% ofavcrage on Grape Creek ncar WcstclifTc, to
81 % of avcragc on the Arkansas River at Salida.