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SOUTH PLATTE BASIN <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br />The SWSI value for the month was 0.8. Reservoir <br />storage in Dillon, Horsetooth, Eleven Mile, Cheesman, <br />Jackson, and Barr Lake, the major component in this basin <br />in computing the SWSI value, was 101 % of normal as of the <br />end of July. Cumulative storage in the major plains <br />reservoirs: Julesberg, North Sterling, and Prewitt, is at 48% <br />of capacity. Cumulative storage in the major upper-basin <br />reservoirs: Cheesman, Eleven Mile, Spinney, and Antero is <br />at 99.4% of capacity. Flow at the gaging station South Platte <br />River near Kersey was 295 cfs, as compared to the long- <br />term average of 666 cfs. Flow at the ColoradolNebraska <br />state line averaged 35 cfs. <br />Outlook <br />The very dry conditions continued in July with <br />precipitation averages of less than 75% over most of the <br />front range. It was the third driest whether in Denver during <br />the period of record with only 0.24 inches compared to an <br />average of 2.16 inches of precipitation. In addition, July was <br />extremely warm with record breaking conditions. For <br />instance, Denver weather in July was the third warmest on <br />record. In fact, there were 24 days with high temperatures <br />above 90 degrees between July 13 and August 5 breaking <br />the record of 18 days of 90 degree weather. These hot <br />temperatures allowed crops to generally catch up from the <br />cool spring conditions. <br />The call on the lower end of the main stem of the <br />South Platte continued to be very senior. Many irrigation <br />users in these areas were very dependent upon their <br />supplemental reservoir supplies to provide an adequate <br />amount of water to their crops. Because of this, it appears <br />that the major irrigation supply reservoirs on the South Platte <br />will be empty by the end of the irrigation season. The main <br />concern with this is that it will require a wet spring next year <br />in order to allow these reservoirs to fill next year. The <br />likelihood of significant shortages for irrigation next year goes <br />up dramatically if the major plains reservoirs do not fill. <br />In general, the supply conditions on the mainstem <br />above Kersey and on the tributaries continued to be average <br />due to the remainder of the runoff from the good snowpack <br />that had existed along the South Platte and Clear Creek <br />above the Denver area. The Denver area municipal <br />suppliers and other municipal suppliers along the Front <br />Range were also in better shape because of the significant <br />storage reserve they have compared to their demand. <br />Winter wheat crops were impacted this year by the <br />dry conditions. By the end of July, there was real concern <br />whether there would be adequate supplies for all of the other <br />crops, especially on the main stem of the South Platte <br />downstream of Kersey. Fortunately, the first 10 days of <br />August have been significantly wetter with several significant <br />widespread storms in the basin. The additional supply has <br />provided much needed water directly to crops, reduced the <br />need for reservoir supplies and increased stream flow <br />allowing for junior users to come into priority and begin taking <br />water. It has even allowed a very short period of reservoir <br />refill on the main stem of the Platte. <br />Aug-08 <br />3 <br />