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YAMPAIWHITE BASIN <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was +1.2. Flow at <br />the gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 1796 cfs, <br />as compared to the long-term average of 1610 cfs. <br />May precipitation was above average for the Yampa, <br />White, and North Platte River basins. Precipitation for the <br />month, as measured at the SNOTEL sites operated by the <br />MRCS, was reported at approximately 109% of average for <br />the Yampa and White River basins and 107% of average for <br />the North Platte River basin. Year-to-date precipitation is <br />reported at 108% of average for the combined Yampa, <br />White, and North Platte River basins. <br />Warmer weather in mid-May resulted in increased <br />snowmelt and a decline in snowpack in the Yampa and <br />White River basins. snowpack in the North Platte River <br />basin, however, remained well above average. The snow <br />water equivalent (SWE) was 90% of average for the Yampa <br />and White River basins and 120% of average for the <br />Laramie and North Platte River basins at the end of May. <br />For the individual basins in Division 6, the snowpack at the <br />end of the month was 121 % of average for the North Platte <br />River basin, 93% of average for the Yampa River basin, and <br />82% of average for the White River basin. <br />MRCS continues to predict near average to well <br />above-average runoff for the Yampa, White, and North Platte <br />River basins. The latest runoff forecasts from MRCS for the <br />June through July period are 117% of average for the North <br />Platte River near Northgate, 122% of average for the Yampa <br />River near Maybell, 142% of average for the Little Snake <br />River near Lily, and 97% of average for the White River near <br />Meeker. <br />The remaining Division 6 stream gages (Steamboat <br />Lake and Pearl Lake) re-opened in May as the night <br />temperatures increased, ice conditions diminished, and the <br />lakes thawed. All Division 6 gage stations are now open for <br />the season. <br />Yamcolo Reservoir continued to rise throughout the <br />month and was reported at capacity and spilling the last <br />week of May. Elkhead Creek Reservoir remained at capacity <br />and spilling throughout the month. Fish Creek Reservoir level <br />was reported at approximately 68% of capacity on May 31, in <br />anticipation of upcoming snowmelt in the upper basin. Water <br />stored in Fish Creek Reservoir is used primarily for municipal <br />purposes, Yamcolo Reservoir for irrigation purposes, and <br />Elkhead Creek Reservoir for municipal, industrial, and <br />recreation purposes, as well as fish recovery releases. <br />Public Use Impacts <br />Most area reservoirs are open for the season, with <br />good fishing reported. <br />Jun-08 <br />YAMPA RIVER AT STEAMBOAT, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br />700,000 <br />600,000 <br />~,~ <br />Q <br />o ~~~ <br />J <br />LL <br />> 600,000 <br />J <br />~ Zoo,ooo <br />U <br />100,000 <br />0 <br />Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mardi April May June July Aug Sept <br />~ UIkT (1984) ~ DRY (197 ~ AVG ~ 2008 <br />8 <br />