WSP12945

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

ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN
as of January 1,2003

Mountain Snow pack. (Inches)

Precipitation" ('to of average)

-X-Current -.-Average
___Maximum --+--Mlnimurn

I_Monthly DYear-lo-dale I

18
18
14
" 12
-
c
.!! 10
.
"
,
" 8
UJ
"
.!!
. 8
;:
4
2

/
/'
V
"'-
V ----
/"
~ V
-
V ""
"

80
.
'"
~
. 80
>
'"
- 50 ' -
0
-
c
. 40
u
"
.
0. 30

10

o

o
Jan

Oct Nav Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Fob

Mar

Apr

May

.nased on selected stations

Snowpack measurements in the Arkansas Basin are only 72% of average for January I. The
snowpack is highly variable ranging from only 52% of average in the Cucharas and Huerfano
watersheds, to 93% of average in the Upper Arkansas Watershed. Although there is about 30%
more snow in the basin than last year, much more snow will need to fall between now and April I
to provide enough runoff this spring to relieve the water shortages brought on by the low
snowpack and dry conditions last season. Precipitation during December was only 49% of
average, and the water year total is only 79% of average. There has been abollt 20% more
precipitation this water year compared to last water year by this time. Reservoirs in the basin have
only 46% of their average storage amount for this time of year. There is only 59% of the storage
there was last year on January I. Forecasted runoff this season is as low and variable as the
snowpack, ranging from only 50% of average at the Cucharas River near La Veta, to 79% of
average in the Chalk Creek near Nathrop.