WSP12946

• File Number: 8040.800
• Description: Water Resources for Colorado
• State: CO
• Date: 5/1/2005
• Author: US Dept of Agriculture - Natural Resoruces Conservation Service
• Title: Colorado Basin Outlook Report May 1, 2005
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

YAMPA, WHITE, NORTH PLATIE AND LARAMIE RIVER BASINS
as of May 1, 2005

Mountain Snowpack* (inches)

~Current ---"'-Average
___Maximum -+-Minimum

30

25
S 20
.,
c
~
.
.~ 15
,
0-
w
"
.
-
. 10
;:
5

o
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

-!lased on selecled stations

Precipitation. (% of average)

[_Monthly DYear-to-dale I

160
140
120
.
C>
. 100
"
.
>
"
- 60
0
-
c
.
u 60
"
.
..
40
20

Oct Nav Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Precipitation late in April did little to help what is turning out to be a very dry year in
Northwest Colorado. Snowpaek levels in the Yampa, White, North Platte, and Laramie River
basins are at 79% of average, down from 89% of average last month. The current snowpack is
138% of snow Icvels at this time last year. Even the Elk and Little Snake Rivers, which were
as high as 102% of average last month, are down to 84% and 88% of average, respectively.
This April brought 94% of its average precipitation, keeping year to date precipitation at 88%.
Reservoir levels in the area are at 98% of average and 93% of the volume stored at this time
'Iast year. Streamnow on the Yampa, White, North Platte, and Laramic basins should rcncct thc
low snowpack Icvels. Thc Elk Rivcr at Milner should be the only point ncar avcragc with an
cxpcctcd 94% of avcragc llow for April through July. Expcct 68% (Whitc Rivcr, North Plattc
ncar Northgatc) to 86% (Littlc Snakc Rivcr) ofavcragc strcamllow in the rcst ofthc basins.