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

GUNNISON RIVER BASIN
as of March 1,2003

Mountain Snowpack* (inches)

---+f-Current ---.-Average
_Maximum -+-Mlnimum

30

25
.5 20
oJ
c
~
"
> 15
'5
.,.
w
,
~
-
~ 10
5

o

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

. Based on selected stations

Precipitation. (% of average)

[. Monthly CYear.to-date I

140

~
"
.
,
~
>
'"
-
0
-
c 60
0
u
,
~
0- 40

20

o.

Oct Nov Dee Jan Feb Mar Apt May

Snowfall in the Gunnison Basin during February has helped to improve the snowpaek
measurements from 74% of average on February I, to 85% of average on March I. Although this
improvement is a far cry from the amount needed to significantly reduce the impacts of the recent
water supply shortages, it does greatly improve the chances that the snow measurements could
reach near average amounts before the meltout begins. The entire basin has benefited from Ihc
February snows, making the measurements unusually uniform, only ranging from 85% to 86% of
average throughout the basin. Precipitation during February was 117% of average, which is the
first time since October the monthly amount was above average. The water year total is now 85%
of average. Reservoirs in the basin remain very low at the end of Febnlary at oniy 74% of
average. There is only 67% of the amount there was last year at this time. Streamnow forecasts
have improved from last month, but remain well below average at all of the forecast points. They
range from only 63% of average on the Uncompahgre River at Colona, to 77% of average on the
North Fork Gunnison near Somerset.