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COLORADO WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK REPORT MAY 1,2004 Summary Much of Colorado saw a return to wet weather patterns during ApriL Those basins east of the Continental Divide benefited the most from the April storms. Elsewhere across the state, at least cooler temperatures helped to retard the melt of the existing snowpack. The April storms did not bring enough moisture to alleviate drought concerns to any large degree. Reservoir storage continues to track at below average levels across most of the state. Forecasted runoff for the spring and summer months remains below average nearly statewide, and some basins with the lowest forecasts, can only expect about half or less of their average volumes. Snowpack A series of wet and intense storms crossed Colorado during April, bringing a much needed addition to the snowpack in many locations. The most favored locations for additional snowfall were the lower Arkansas and Rio' Grande basins. Also benefiting from these storms were the South Platte and San Juan basins. The snowpack percent of average in the Arkansas Basin rebounded to 98% of average on May 1, after dropping to 60% of average on April 1, from the dry March. In the Rio Grande Basin, snowpack percentages increased to the highest in the state, at 102% of average on May 1. Across northwestern Colorado the storm track was greatly reduced during April, leaving the snowpack in the Colorado, Yampa and White River basins to continue their second month of steady declines. The combined Yampa and White basins are now reporting the lowest snowpack percentages in the state, at only 53% of average. The Colorado River Basin is only faring slightly better at 55% of average snowpack. In many respects, this year's snowpack pattern is completely opposite of last year's. With last year's highest snowpack percentages measured across most of northern, Colorado, and leaving the southern mountains with well below average totals, this year's pattern reflects the highest percentages across the southern mountains, leaving the northern mountain with well below average totals. Statewide, the current snowpack increased only slightly from last month, at 68% of average, and remains well below last year's snowpack totals at' only 78%. With another year of below average snowpack accumulations' across the state, water users will now have to look towards the winter of 2005 for any significant relief to water supply shortages. Typically, spring and summer rainfall only tends to reduce demands, while not contributing towards significant long-term water supply reserves.