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

UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN
as of May I, 2005

Mountain Snowpack* (inches)

---i+-Currenl -'-Average
__Ma)(lmum -+-Minimum

25

20
"
.;
0 15
.
;;
~
,
c-
UI
" 10
.
-
.
;:
5

o
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

+Basc=o on sclt-C1cd slalions

Precipitation. (% of average)

I_Monthly DYear-to-dale I

140
120
100 -
.
'"
.
"
.
> 80
..
-
0
-
0 60
.
u
"
.
Q.
40
20
0
0" Nav Dee Jan Feb Mar Apr May

The Colorado River basin saw stable snow levels early in April followed by a sharp drop in
snowpaek during mid April. Despite the elTorts of a series of storms later in the month, basin
wide snowpack in the Colorado River basin is still down to 88% of average from 98% of
average last month. The Blue River, Muddy Creek, Upper Colorado, and Williams Fork basins
are all well below average, ranging from as low as 59% of average on Muddy Creek to 82% of
.average on the Williams Fork. In the meantime, sub-basins in the southern portions of the
watershed are considerably beller off. Plateau Creek and the Roaring Fork are showing
snowpacks above the 30 year average at 145% and 103% of average, respectively.
Precipitation for the month of April was about average at 99% of average, keeping year to date
precipitation below average at 88% of average despite a series of storms in late April.
Reservoir storage at the end of April rose to 81 % of average, up from 77% of average last
month. Look for mostly below average streamflows throughout the Colorado River basin this
spring. The Roaring Fork at Glenwood Springs is the exception at an expected 99% of
average. Expect 76% of average flow for the Colorado near Dotsero.