SWSIReportApril2008

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update
• Date: 4/15/2008
• Description: Joint Water Availability & Colorado Flood Task Force Meeting Presentation
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

YAMPAIWHITE BASIN

Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value for the month was +0.2. Flow at the
gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 151 cfs, as
compared to the long-term average of 156 cfs. The Natural
Resources Conservation Service reports that April 1
snowpack is 109% of normal.
March precipitation was below average for the
Yampa, White, and North Platte River basins. Precipitation
for the month, as measured at the SNOTEL sites operated by
the NRCS, was reported at approximately 82% of average for
the Yampa and White River basins and 84% of average for
the North Platte River basin. Year-to-date precipitation is
reported at 109% of average for the combined Yampa, White,
and North Platte River basins. Snowpack is near average to
above average for the area. The snow water equivalent
(SWE) as of March 31, 2008 for the Yampa and White River
basins was 109% of average and for the Laramie and North
Platte River basins was 107% if average. For the individual
basins in Division 6, the snowpack at the end of the month
was 107% of average for the North Platte River basin, 113%
of average for the Yampa River basin, and 96% of average
for the White River basin. At 121 % of average, the Elk River
watershed touted the highest figures in the area, and this is
the highest April 1 percentage the sub-basin has seen since
1997.
NRCS continues to predict near average to well
above-average runoff in the Yampa, White, and North Platte
River basins. The latest runoff forecasts from the NRCS for
the April through July period are 120% of average for the
North Platte River near Northgate, 116% of average for the
Yampa River near Maybell, 129% of average for the Little
Snake River near Lily, and 103% of average for the White
River near Meeker. Forecast volumes range from 103% of
average for the White River near Meeker to 142% of average
for Elkhead Creek below Maynard Gulch.
Due to the continued cold night temperatures, many
of the Division 6 stream gages remained closed during
March, but are anticipated to re-open in April as the night
temperatures increase.

Outlook
Yamcolo Reservoir and Elkhead Creek Reservoir
storage levels continued to rise throughout the month and the
reservoirs were reported at approximately 77% and 83% of
capacity, respectively, at the end of March. Fish Creek
Reservoir level dropped slightly in March and was at
approximately 68% of capacity at the end of the month.
Water stored in Fish Creek Reservoir is used primarily for
municipal purposes, Yamcolo Reservoir for irrigation
purposes, and Elkhead Creek Reservoir for municipal,
industrial, and recreation purposes, as well as fish recovery
releases.

8

Apr-08

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YAMPA RIVER AT srEAMBOAT, FLOW BY WATER YEAR

60,000

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--8- V\ET (1934)

-+- DRY (1977) ~ AVG "*- 2008