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<br />SOUTH PLATTE BASIN <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was 0.7. Cumulative <br />storage for the six reservoirs graphed on this page was <br />107% of normal as of the end of April. Cumulative storage <br />in the major plains reservoirs: Julesberg, North Sterling, and <br />Prewitt, is at 98% of capacity. Cumulative storage in the <br />major upper-basin reservoirs: Cheesman, Eleven Mile, <br />Spinney, and Antero is at 95% of capacity. The Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service reports that May 1 <br />snowpack is 103% of normal. Flow at the gaging station <br />South Platte River near Kersey was 294 cfs, as compared to <br />the long-term average of 843 cfs. Flow at the <br />Colorado/Nebraska state line averaged 152 cfs. <br /> <br />Outlook <br />With reservoirs generally full on the South Platte, <br />users began to recharge along the mainstem in April. <br />Storage continued on most tributaries. Due to the relatively <br />dry April conditions, the primary diversions changed to <br />irrigation purposes along the mainstem by the end of the <br />month. With no supply yet from runoff, the demand for <br />irrigation exceeded the supply and there was a direct flow <br />call for irrigation by the last ten days of the month. This is <br />not unusual when spring conditions on the plains are <br />relatively dry. <br />With average or above average snowpack <br />throughout the basin, we are hopeful that runoff will meet a <br />significant portion of demand this spring. Nevertheless, it is <br />important that there is at least some significant precipitation <br />in May and June to assure adequate supplies for this water <br />year. If conditions remain dry on the plains and runoff is <br />used mainly along the tributaries for their senior rights, <br />mainstem users will need to use reservoir water to irrigate <br />this spring which could strain supplies later in the summer. <br /> <br />May-08 <br /> <br />SOJTH Pl.ATlE I?ASIN S/lS HSTCRY <br /> <br /> <br />>- <br />w <br />'" <br /> <br />w <br />:3 <br />"' <br />5 0 <br />o <br />;:: <br />>-.1 <br />'" <br />o <br /> <br />Jm-99 Jan-OO Jan-01 Jm-02 Jan-03 Jan-04 Jm-05 Jan-03 Jm-07 Jan-OO <br />M:N1H/\S'R <br /> <br />SOUfH PLATTE RIVER NR KERSEY, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br /> <br />3,OOO,00J <br /> <br /> ~ <br /> / <br /> / <br /> 1/ <br /> / <br /> / <br /> / ~ r-- <br />~ ~ ~ <br /> <br />Q) Z500,00J <br />" <br />LL <br />" <br />3{ 2,OOO,00J <br />S" <br />o <br />-' <br />LL 1,500,00J <br />w <br />> <br />>= <br />~ l,OOO,OOJ <br />::< <br />::J <br />u <br /> <br />500,00J <br /> <br />o <br />Oct Nov Cec Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept <br /> <br />--{}-.. WET (1983) --+- CRY (1964) -fr- AVG ""* 2CXJ8 <br /> <br />REPRESENT A TlVE RESERVOI RS <br /> <br />250.00J <br /> <br /> <br />2OO.00J <br /> <br />Q) <br />2 <br />" <br />~ 150,(0) <br /><Ii <br />OJ <br />ro <br />o <br /> <br />~ 100,(0) <br />:0 <br />ro <br /><f> <br />::J <br /> <br />5O.00J <br /> <br />Dillon Horsetooth Eleven Mile Cheesrran Jackson Barr Lake <br /> <br />II Avg. 4/30 Contents <br /> <br />114/30'08 Contents <br /> <br />3 <br />