SWSIReportJuly2008

• Title: Colorado Water Supply Conditions Update
• Date: 7/25/2008
• Description: Water Availability Task Force Meeting Materials
• Basin: Statewide
• Drought Mitigation - Doc Type: Presentation

ARKANSAS BASIN
Basinwide Conditions Assessment
The SWSI value for the month was 1.8. Flow at the
gaging station Arkansas River near Portland was 3324 cfs,
as compared to the long-term average of 2283 cfs. Storage
in Turquoise, Twin Lakes, Pueblo, and John Martin
reservoirs totaled 96% of normal as of the end of June.
Outlook
June continued to be a month of unusual disparity
across the Arkansas Basin. The mainstem stream flows
from headwaters snow melt contributed to an above average
double peak of runoff flows through the Canon City and
Portland stream gages while other portions of the basin off
the mainstem experienced fairly low runoff conditions and
generally suffered from lack of precipitation in June. The
warming/cooling weather pattern drove mainstem runoff to a
peak around June 4, 2008 at the Portland stream gage, but
then slowed to half the peak flow by June 13, 2008, then
rebounded for an almost identical peak around June 20,
2008.
The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy
District allocated approximately 83,000 acre-feet of
Fryingpan Arkansas Project water, which is 45,500 acre-feet
more than the amount allocated in 2007 due to very strong
snowpack conditions in the Fryingpan drainage.
AdministrativelManagement Concerns
Rangeland areas and water rights on some tributary
streams experienced some significant issues compared to
the above average supplies on the mainstem.
Jul-08
ARKANSAS BASIN SUUSI HISTORY
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