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

UPPER RIO GRANDE RIVER BASIN
as of March 1, 2003

Mountain Snow pack- (Inches)

Precipitation- (% of average)

--*-Current ___Average
___Maximum -+-Minlmum

I_Monthly DYear-lo.date I

25

o

OCI Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

140
120
. 100
co
~
.
> 60
..
-
0
-
c 60
.
u
"
.
Q.
40

20
c
-
c 15
~
.
>
'5
0-
w
" 10
.
-
.
;:
5

20

o
Jan

Feb

Ma,

Apr

May

-Based on selected Slalion.~

Snowpack measurements in the Rio Grande Basin are at 73% of avcrage on March I, which is
much more encouraging than a month ago when they were only 60% of average. Even with the
additional snow amounts, the basin has a long way to go to for significant rclief in the rccent
water supply shortage. lfas much new snow falls during March as did in February, the snowpack
measurements would only reach about 86% of average by April i. Measurements range from
only 56% of average in the Alamosa Creek Watershed, to 10 I % of average in the Culebra and
Trinchera Creek watersheds. Precipitation was 130% of average during February, which is the
first above average monthly measurement since October. The water year total is now 82% of
average. Reservoirs in the basin contain only 61 % of their average storage amount for this time of
year, which is only 81 % of the storage amount there was last year at this time. Streamnow
forecasts remain well below average at most of the forecast points. Forecasts range from only
58% of average on La Jara Creek near Capulin, to 96% of average on Costilla Creek near Costilla.