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<br />COLORADO BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was +2.7. The <br />Natural Resources Conservation Service reports that April 1 <br />snowpack is 123% of normal. Flow at the gaging station <br />Colorado River near Dotsero was 1037 cfs, as compared to <br />the long-term average of 1083 cfs. Storage in Green <br />Mountain, Ruedi, and Williams Fork reservoirs totaled 126% <br />of normal as of the end of March. <br /> <br />Outlook <br />Total Colorado River Basin precipitation levels <br />decreased from 125 to 115 percent of average during the <br />month of March. Reservoir operators continue to open <br />storage space for anticipated heavy run-off at Ruedi and <br />Green Mountain Reservoirs with increases of 50 cfs (4-2) and <br />120 cfs (3-20) respectively. Given the heavy precipitation in <br />early April, these release rates are likely to increase further <br />for anticipated heavy run-off. <br /> <br />Administrative/Manaqement Concerns <br />Although not at record level, the NRCS data shown <br />at the headwaters of the Roaring Fork indicates a snow <br />water equivalent value of 23.5 inches (40 percent above <br />average) as of April 4th. Recent heavy precipitation will boost <br />this value, but unlikely to the record level of 27.7 inches <br />recorded May 19, 1995. The above-average precipitation <br />levels this year have prompted CDOT to initiate removal of <br />approximately 1500 cubic yards of sand and river cobble that <br />has accumulated upstream of the Upper Basalt Bypass <br />Bridge on Highway 82. Both Garfield and Mesa County <br />Sheriff's Offices have issued flood hazard warnings. <br />However, the impact of springtime temperatures and wind <br />conditions on snowmelt could impact the forecast runoff <br />considerably. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br />The whitewater park/wave feature on the Colorado <br />River in West Glenwood Springs was completed in early <br />March. The park was designed to create waves over a wide <br />range of flows, and potentially allow Glenwood Springs to <br />host international-level kayaking competitions. Until now, a <br />well-known wave in South Canyon west of Glenwood Springs <br />has been the closest feature, which does not develop fully <br />until the river reaches a 3500 cfs flow rate. <br /> <br />~ 500,000 <br />Q) <br />Q) <br />LL <br />dJ <br />~ 4OJ.000 <br /> <br />~ <br />a <br />u: 3OJ,COJ <br />w <br />> <br />>= <br />:s 2OJ,000 <br />::J <br />::;; <br />::J <br />U 100,000 <br /> <br />1D <br />J? 60,000 <br />Q) <br />" <br />'" <br /><Ii 50,000 <br />OJ <br />ro <br />a 40.000 <br />Q) <br />rn 30, OCO <br />::J <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />Apr-08 <br /> <br />ca.~~S1NS/lS HSTCRY <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />w <br />::: <br /><t <br />> 0 <br />x <br />w <br />o <br />Z <br />-.1 <br />>- <br />0:: <br />o <br />.2 <br /> <br />.3 <br /> <br />.4 <br />Jan-OO Jm-OO Jm-01 Jan-02 Jan-CC Jm-04 Jan-05 Jan-OO Jan-07 Jm-OO <br />M:N1H/\S'R <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER NR DOTSERO, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />600,000 <br /> <br /> <br />o <br />Cct <br /> <br />Nov <br /> <br />Dee Jan <br /> <br />Feb M3rch <br /> <br />--8- V\ET (1934) <br /> <br />-+-DRY(=) ~AVG <br /> <br />"*- 2008 <br /> <br />REPRESENT A TlVE RESERVOI RS <br /> <br />00,000 <br /> <br />80,000 <br /> <br /> <br />70,000 <br /> <br />20,000 <br /> <br />10,000 <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />Green I'vbuntain <br /> <br />Ruedi <br /> <br />WllialT'S Fork <br /> <br />III Avg. 3131 Contents <br /> <br />11I3/31/08 Contents <br />