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<br />COLORADO BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />Ihe SWSI value for the month was +2.7. Ihe <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 />10tal 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. Ihe above-average precipitation <br />levels this year have prompted CDOl 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 />Ihe whitewater park/wave feature on the Colorado <br />River in West Glenwood Springs was completed in early <br />March. Ihe 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 />~ 5OJ,CXXJ <br />" <br />" <br />LL <br />" <br />~ 4OJ,CXXJ <br /> <br />s- <br />o <br />Li 3CO,CCO <br />w <br />> <br />>= <br />:'S 2OJ,CXXJ <br />::J <br />:;; <br />::J <br />U 100,CXXJ <br /> <br />1i) <br />~ 00, CXXJ <br />" <br />" <br />'" <br />,,- 5O,CXXJ <br />OJ <br />'" <br />a 40, CXXJ <br />" <br />~ 3O,CCO <br />::J <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />w <br />:3 <br /><t <br />> 0 <br />>< <br />w <br />o <br />Z <br />--1 <br /> <br />52 <br />o <br />-2 <br /> <br />May-08 <br /> <br />CQc::fW)QeASlNS'u\SI HSlt:R( <br /> <br />-3 <br /> <br /> <br />Jan-CD Jan-01 J<n-02 Jan-03 Jan-04 J<n-05 Jan-OO Jan-O? Jan-OO <br />MCN1H I)EAR <br /> <br />CDLORADO RIVER NR DOTSERO, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />6OO,CXXJ <br /> <br /> <br />o <br />Oct <br /> <br />NCN <br /> <br />Dee Jan <br /> <br />Feb March <br /> <br />__ V\ET (1984) <br /> <br />-+- DRY (2002) --b- A VG <br /> <br />"*- 2008 <br /> <br />REPRESENTATIVE RESERVOIRS <br /> <br />00, CXXJ <br /> <br />80, CXXJ <br /> <br /> <br />70,CXXJ <br /> <br />20, CXXJ <br /> <br />10,CXXJ <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />Green rvbuntain <br /> <br />Ruedi <br /> <br />Wlliarrs Fork <br /> <br />II Avg. 3/31 Contents <br /> <br />113131/08 Contents <br />