FTF&WATF 5-19-08 Minutes

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 5/19/2008
• Prepared For: FTF
• Prepared By: CWCB
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Task Force Meeting Materials

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91 % of last year, and 57% of capacity. Streamflow forecasts are: Green Mountain inflow 120%
of average, Reudi inflow 138% of average, and Roaring Fork at Glenwood Springs 141% of
average.
o South Platte River Basin - The basin wide snowpack as of May 1 is 103% of average. Reservoir
storage is 92% of average, 100% of last year, and 78% of total capacity.
o Gunnison River Basin - The total basin snowpack as of May 1 is the 1360/0 of the long term
average and the last time it was higher was 1996 when it was 150% on May 1 st. Reservoir
storage is 99% of average and 79% aflast year and 560/0 of total capacity. Streamflow forecasts
are very high in this basin an a few are given: Tomichi Creek at Sargents @ 142%, Blue Mesa
inflow @ 147%, north Fork Gunnison River near Somerset @ 141 %, and Gunnison River near
Grand Junction @ 146%.
o Southwest River Basins - (San Juan, San Miguel, Dolores, and Animas Basins) Snowpack in the
southwest basins had a good start but a dry spring and is at 103% of average on May 1 as
compared to 2005 when it was 135% for a basin wide total. Reservoir storage is 100% of
average, 830~ aflast year, and 73% of capacity.
o Rio Grande River Basin - As of May 1 the snowpack is 117% of average and less than the
139% in 2005. Reservoir storage is 1000/0 of average and 114% of last year and 320/0 of total
capacity. The Rio Grande at Del Norte is forecasted for 128% of average, South Fork Rio Grande
at South Fork 133%.
o Arkansas River Basin - The basin wide snowpack is 131 % of average and it has not been better
since 1997 when it was 150% of the long term average. Reservoir storage is 900/0 of average, 96%
of last year, and 29% of capacity.

Division of Water Resources SWSI Report
. Don West explained that the NRCS calculates the Statewide Water Supply Index in the winter and
the DWR does it in the summer. The DWR report can is at http://water.state.co.us/pubs/swsi.asp ·
The range is +4 abundant water supply to -4 severe drought. The highest is the Gunnison Basin at 3.0
and the lowest is the South Platte at +0.7.
o South Platte Basin - 0.7, 107% of normal, plains reservoirs are 100010 of capacity. With
above average snowpack throughout the basin they are hopeful it will meet delnand this
spring but at lest some spring precipitation will be needed to assure adequate water supplies.
o Arkansas Basin - SWSI value is 2.7 and Turquoise, Twin Lakes, Pueblo and John Marthl
reservoir storage is 98%. The USBR and Corps of Engineers have held meetings to make
room in upper reservoirs (Twin Lakes & Turquoise). These ops have pushed Pueblo Reservoir
to near spill conditions. Preliminary compliance models indicated that the well associations in
the Basin were successful in providing adequate replacement water to the river and to the
Offset Account in John Martin Reservoir.
o Rio Grande Basin - The SWSI value is 2.4 and the flow at the Rio Grande near Del Norte
averaged 1008 c.fs. (153% of normal).
o Gunnison Basin - SWSI 3.0 value and all the Grand Mesa reservoirs are expected to fill.
High flows will adversely affect the Gunnison River Gorge annual salmon fly hatch in June
but white water enthusiasts should experience a year to remember.
o Colorado Basin - The SWSI value is 2.3 and Lake Powell is forecasted for a 45-50 foot rise.
o YampalWhiteBasin - SWSI value is 0.1 value and Inany of the reservoirs relnained frozen
through April and are beginning to thaw.
o San Juan/Dolores Basin - SWSI is 1.4 and a dry and windy spring was a theme in ApriL
Vallecito and Navajo reservoirs began ratcheting back releases as the recent decrease in
snowpack has led to less spring runoff than expected.
Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Finance 0 Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection lP Conservation Planning