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

SAN MIGUEL, DOLORES, ANIMAS, AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASINS
as of May I, 2005

Mountain Snow pack- (inches)

---++-Currenl -Ir-Average
___Maximum ---+-Minimum

'.

45
40
35
C 30
.;
"
.
;; 25
>
"5
.,. 20
w
"
.
-
. 15
;:
10
5
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

. Based on selected stations

Precipitation- (% of average)

[_Monthly DYear-to-dale I

250.

-
Q

200

.
0>
.
"
CD 150
>
<<

-
"
~ 100
"
.
..

50

Oct Nav Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

The water supply outlook for the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan basins is very
similar to that of the Rio Grande. Snow levels remained stable carly in April, then cxpcricnced
a sharp declinc. April cndcd with a slight recovery, putting the snowpack Icvel in the San
Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan basins at 135% of average for May I, down slightly
from 138% of average last month but at 160% of the reading for this time last year. Like the
'Rio Grande, this year's is the bcst May I snowpack since 1995. Individually, the Animas River
basin is at 131% of average, the Dolores is at 119%, the San Miguel is at 132%, and the San
'Juan is at 147%. Precipitation for the month of April was 98% of average, putting year to date
precipitation at 125% of average. Unlike the Rio Grande, reservoirs in the San Miguel,
Dolorcs, Animas, and San Juan basins are at 98% of their avcrage storage and 72% of capacity.
Streamflow should be a reflection of favorable snowpack conditions. All waterways are
expected to flow at above average, many exceeding 150% of average. The Animas.at Durango
is forecast to run at 143% ofaveragc while inflows at Vallecito and Lcmon Reservoirs should
bc at161% and 172% of average, respectively.