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<br />Reservoir Storage <br /> <br />Colorado's statewide reservoir storage has been tracking below average since September 2001. During <br />the summer of 2002, storage volumes dropped to over 1.9 million acre-feet below average by August 1. <br />While those deficits have improved slightly since last summer, they remain at nearly 1.7 million acre- <br />feet on J anuary.-t:- As a percent of average, the current storage volumes are only 51 % of average, and <br />60% of last year's storage volumes. Of course, storage is well below average in all basins and ranges <br />from only 40% of average in the Colorado Basin, to as much as 89% of average in the Yampa and White <br />basins. As expected, the current volumes are tracking well below those of last year at this time. <br />Statewide, storage is only 60% of last year's volume. Recovery to pre-drought volumes is expected to <br />take several years of good to excellent runoff. <br /> <br />Streamflow <br /> <br />At this point the prospects for next spring and summer's runoff is not favorable. A below average <br />snowpack, sitting on very dry soils, translates into very low runoff forecasts across most of the state. <br />Some of the lowest forecasts are in the San Juan, Rio Grande, Arkansas and South Platte basins, where <br />spring and summer flows are only expected to range from 50% to 70% of average. Meanwhile, some of <br />the best prospects for runoff occur in the upper reaches of the Colorado River Basin. With near average <br />snowfall anticipated in the coming months, flows of 85% to 90% of average are predicted in these <br />basins. In most years with below average runoff we've had the benefit of good reservoir storage to <br />supplement the low flows. However, this year is quite a different story. At best, reservoir. storage may <br />help extend the'-runoff season a little longer this year with adding to storage, a limited luxury for most <br />reservOIrs. <br /> <br />For Colorado's Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI) map for January 1,2003 check our web site at: <br />http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/snow-index.htm <br />